Search Here

If gender dysphoria involves a conflict between a person's physical or assigned gender and the gender with which they identify, is it a mental disorder or mental illness?

What Happens When a Person Has Gender Dysphoria?

When a person has gender dysphoria, they often experience significant distress due to a mismatch between their gender identity and their physical body. This can manifest as anxiety, depression, and a persistent desire to live as the identified gender. Gender-affirming treatments, which may include hormone therapy or surgery, are often sought to alleviate these feelings. Mental health professionals play a key role in diagnosing gender dysphoria to provide access to appropriate care.

Differences Between a Mental Disorder and Mental Illness?

A mental disorder typically refers to clinically significant patterns of behavior or psychological functioning that cause distress or impairment. 

Mental illness is a broader term encompassing various mental health conditions, including disorders, which affect mood, thinking, and behavior. 

Mental disorders are often characterized by specific diagnostic criteria and are seen as distinct conditions. 

Mental illness, however, may include a wide range of mental health issues, not all of which are classified as disorders. 

Both terms imply a need for treatment, but a mental disorder often has more specific implications for medical and therapeutic interventions.

Is Gender Dysphoria a Mental Disorder or Mental Illness?

Historically, gender dysphoria has been classified as a mental disorder. Notably, the American Psychiatric Association included "gender identity disorder" in earlier editions of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 

Similarly, the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases listed "gender identity disorder." This classification aimed to ensure access to healthcare resources for those seeking gender-affirming treatment.

However, this classification has been criticized for contributing to stigma and suggesting that gender diversity is inherently problematic. 

In 2019, the World Health Organization reclassified gender incongruence, affirming it is not a mental disorder. This shift reflects an understanding of gender diversity as part of human variation rather than a pathological condition.

The reclassification supports reducing stigma and emphasizes the autonomy of transgender persons over their identities. While the distress associated with gender dysphoria is recognized, it is increasingly viewed as stemming from external factors such as social rejection rather than from being transgender itself.