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Updated: May 9, 2026
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Conscious and Non-conscious Representations of Emotional Faces in Asperger's Syndrome
Published on: July 31, 2016
Gender dysphoria in Asperger's syndrome: a caution
1Psychiatrist in private practice (retired), Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
Summary
Young individuals with Asperger's syndrome may experience gender dysphoria as a temporary obsession rather than a persistent identity. Careful assessment is crucial before irreversible gender transition treatments.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Gender Studies
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Background:
- Asperger's syndrome is noted to have a higher incidence in individuals with gender dysphoria.
- Individuals with Asperger's syndrome are susceptible to obsessive preoccupations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential for gender dysphoria to manifest as a transient obsession in patients with Asperger's syndrome.
- To highlight the importance of differentiating between genuine gender dysphoria and obsessive preoccupations.
Main Methods:
- A review of clinical cases from the author's practice was conducted.
- Focus on cases involving young individuals presenting with gender dysphoria and suspected Asperger's syndrome.
Main Results:
- Two young men with Asperger's syndrome presented with strong gender dysphoria and sought medical interventions.
- Withholding treatment allowed both individuals to later reject their "transgender phase".
Conclusions:
- Assessment for Asperger's syndrome indicators is recommended for patients seeking sex reassignment.
- Irreversible treatments for gender transition should be postponed until a definitive diagnosis of transsexualism is established.
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