title: Autism spectrum disorders in gender dysphoric children and adolescents.
abstract: Only case reports have described the co-occurrence of gender identity disorder (GID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This study examined this co-occurrence using a systematic approach. Children and adolescents (115 boys and 89 girls, mean age 10.8, SD = 3.58) referred to a gender identity clinic received a standardized assessment during which a GID diagnosis was made and ASD suspected cases were identified. The Dutch version of the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (10th rev., DISCO-10) was administered to ascertain ASD classifications. The incidence of ASD in this sample of children and adolescents was 7.8% (n = 16). Clinicians should be aware of co-occurring ASD and GID and the challenges it generates in clinical management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. alc.devries@vumc.nl
authors.forename: Annelou L C
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Ilse L J
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Noens
authors.forename: Peggy T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Cohen-Kettenis
authors.forename: Ina A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: van Berckelaer-Onnes
authors.forename: Theo A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Doreleijers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology