INTERSEXUALITY AND THE DIAGNOSIS OF GENDER IDENTITY DISORDER

Problems of gender identity development are the core concern in the ps ychosocial management of medical conditions involving ambiguous genita lia. This report discusses the difficulties encountered in applying th e DSM category and criteria of Gender Identity Disorder (GID) to such patients. Data on prevalence, age of onset or presentation sex ratio, and associated or predictive factors also suggest marked differences b etween intersex patients with gender identity problems and nonintersex patients with GID. Patients with intersexuality or similar medical co nditions should be excluded from the GID diagnosis.