Gender Identity Disorder in Young Boys: A Parent- and Peer-Based Treatment Protocol

Abstract

Gender identity disorder (GID) as a psychiatric category is currently under debate. Because of the psychosocial consequences of childhood GID and the fact that childhood GID, in most cases, appears to have faded by the time of puberty, we think that a cost-effective treatment approach that speeds up the fading process would be beneficial. Our treatment approach is informed by the known psychosocial factors and mechanisms that contribute to gender identity development in general, and focuses on the interaction of the child with the parents and with the same-gender peer group. To minimize the child’s stigmatization, only the parents come to treatment sessions. A review of a consecutive series of 11 families of young boys with GID so treated shows a high rate of success with a relatively low number of sessions. We conclude that this treatment approach holds considerable promise as a cost-effective procedure for families in which both parents are present.