The DSM diagnostic criteria for gender identity disorder in children.
In this article, I review the diagnostic criteria for Gender Identity Disorder (GID) in children as they were formulated in the DSM-III, DSM-III-R, and DSM-IV. The article focuses on the cumulative evidence for diagnostic reliability and validity. It does not address the broader conceptual discussion regarding GID as "disorder," as this issue is addressed in a companion article by Meyer-Bahlburg (2009). This article addresses criticisms of the GID criteria for children which, in my view, can be addressed by extant empirical data. Based in part on reanalysis of data, I conclude that the persistent desire to be of the other gender should, in contrast to DSM-IV, be a necessary symptom for the diagnosis. If anything, this would result in a tightening of the diagnostic criteria and may result in a better separation of children with GID from children who display marked gender variance, but without the desire to be of the other gender.
Gender Identity Service, Child, Youth, and Family Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada. Ken_Zucker@camh.net
Kenneth J
KJ
Zucker
D002648:Child; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D019968:Sexual and Gender Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*