title: A clinical approach to childhood gender identity disorder.
abstract: A review of gender identity disorder is presented along with a case of a four-year-old boy. An overview of some of the theories of gender identity disorder directs our attention via the clinical material to conflict/defense as the most useful. The youngster's cross-gender behavior, possible contributions to it, treatment issues, parental input, boundaries, and transitional objects are considered. The necessity of close communication, cooperation, and guidance to parents, as well as involving them in individual and family therapy, is stressed.
authors.affiliation: Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugar
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005783:Gender Identity; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D009769:Object Attachment; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011606:Psychosexual Development; D014167:Transference, Psychology; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D014190:Transvestism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy