[Gender dysphoria in pervasive developmental disorders]

Area of Science:

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Psychiatry
• Developmental Psychology

Context:

• Pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), encompassing autism spectrum disorders (ASD), affect social interaction and behavior.
• Adolescent psychosocial development involves navigating 'Identity vs. Role Confusion,' a stage where PDD individuals may experience identity crises.
• Gender dysphoria and gender identity disorder (GID) are increasingly recognized in clinical settings, with recent studies indicating a significant co-occurrence with ASD.

Purpose:

• To explore the relationship between pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) and gender dysphoria (GD).
• To present case studies illustrating PDD with co-occurring gender identity issues.
• To highlight the importance of considering PDD in the differential diagnosis of gender dysphoria.

Summary:

• Individuals with PDD, particularly during adolescence, may experience identity confusion that can manifest as gender dysphoria.
• Four cases are presented: PDD with GID symptoms due to social isolation, PDD with transvestism, Asperger's disorder with sexual orientation disturbance, and Asperger's disorder with childhood GID.
• Cognitive traits and psychopathology associated with PDD may explain many symptoms of gender dysphoria.

Impact:

• Suggests that PDD should be considered in the assessment of patients presenting with gender dysphoria.
• Underscores the need for multidisciplinary evaluation in diagnosing co-occurring conditions.
• Contributes to a better understanding of the complex interplay between neurodevelopmental disorders and gender identity.