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Source: https://themedicalprogress.com/2021...stance-on-gender-dysphoria-recommend-therapy/
Psychiatrists Shift Stance on Gender Dysphoria, Recommend Therapy
The Medical Progress 3 weeks ago
A new position statement from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) stresses the importance of a mental health evaluation for people with gender dysphoria — in particular for children and adolescents — before any firm decisions are made on whether to prescribe hormonal treatments to transition, or perform surgeries, often referred to as “gender-affirming care.”
“There is a paucity of quality evidence on the outcomes of those presenting with gender dysphoria. In particular, there is a need for better evidence in relation to outcomes for children and young people,” the guidance states.
Because gender dysphoria “is associated with significant distress…each case should be assessed by a mental health professional, which will frequently be a psychiatrist, with the person at the center of care. It is important the psychological state and context in which gender dysphoria has arisen is explored to assess the most appropriate treatment,” it adds.
The move by the psychiatry body represents a big shift in the landscape regarding recommendations for the treatment of gender dysphoria in Australia and New Zealand.
Asked to explain the new RANZCP position, Philip Morris, MBBS, FRANZCP, said: “The College acknowledged the complexity of the issues and the legitimacy of different approaches.”
Exploration of a patient’s reasons for identifying as transgender is essential, he told Medscape Medical News, especially when it comes to young people.
“There may be other reasons for doing it and we need to look for those, identify them and treat them. This needs to be done before initiating hormones and changing the whole physical nature of the child,” he said.
“A cautious psychotherapy-first approach makes sense. If we can do that with adolescents then we will take a big step in the right direction,” stressed Morris, who is president of the National Association of Practising Psychiatrists in Australia...
Psychiatrists Shift Stance on Gender Dysphoria, Recommend Therapy
The Medical Progress 3 weeks ago
A new position statement from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) stresses the importance of a mental health evaluation for people with gender dysphoria — in particular for children and adolescents — before any firm decisions are made on whether to prescribe hormonal treatments to transition, or perform surgeries, often referred to as “gender-affirming care.”
“There is a paucity of quality evidence on the outcomes of those presenting with gender dysphoria. In particular, there is a need for better evidence in relation to outcomes for children and young people,” the guidance states.
Because gender dysphoria “is associated with significant distress…each case should be assessed by a mental health professional, which will frequently be a psychiatrist, with the person at the center of care. It is important the psychological state and context in which gender dysphoria has arisen is explored to assess the most appropriate treatment,” it adds.
The move by the psychiatry body represents a big shift in the landscape regarding recommendations for the treatment of gender dysphoria in Australia and New Zealand.
Asked to explain the new RANZCP position, Philip Morris, MBBS, FRANZCP, said: “The College acknowledged the complexity of the issues and the legitimacy of different approaches.”
Exploration of a patient’s reasons for identifying as transgender is essential, he told Medscape Medical News, especially when it comes to young people.
“There may be other reasons for doing it and we need to look for those, identify them and treat them. This needs to be done before initiating hormones and changing the whole physical nature of the child,” he said.
“A cautious psychotherapy-first approach makes sense. If we can do that with adolescents then we will take a big step in the right direction,” stressed Morris, who is president of the National Association of Practising Psychiatrists in Australia...