Textbook: Whitbourne, S. K. (2017). Abnormal psychology: Clinical perspectives on psychological disorders. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
*Argument must be clear and concise. Support argument with evidence, if outside sources are used please reference them* - THANK YOU
Case Study 5: A 26 years old male was referred to us as he expressed a desire to undergo sex reassignment surgery. On inquiry, it was found that he was feeling uncomfortable about his male gender since the age of around 10 years and felt that he should have been a female. He used to dress up frequently in female clothes and was more interested in doing household work like cleaning, cooking, etc.
At the age of around 15 years when he developed masculine characters, he became very uncomfortable about it. He started shaving 2 to 3 times a day in order to, keep his face clean and he would also put makeup to appear as a female. During this period he also got attracted towards a male friend and got involved with him in sexual activities like mutual masturbation and anal inter- course in which he would be a passive partner. He informed that by undergoing sex reassignment surgery he wanted to change himself to a female and marry his friend. Due to his feminine behavior and desire to change his sex, his parents were very angry with him. On examination, he had a typical feminine accent and behavior. There were no abnormalities as far as his external genital organs were concerned. In spite of immense disapproval from his parents an even after understanding the limitations of sex reassignment surgery, he insisted that he would like to take hormones and later, after undergoing the surgery he would marry one of his old male friends. The desire for sex change operation was persistent at the follow-up visit even after one year.
1. What would you say this particular client is struggling with and why? Please be specific, detailed, citing particular examples.
2. What is the opinion of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) regarding diagnosing an individual with these challenges? Why?
3. What are some of the new approaches clinicians are using to support an individual with such challenges?
4. Tell me some of the challenges that these particular folks struggle with socially. Please offer concise, detailed explanations.
1. What would you say this particular client is struggling with and why? Please be specific, detailed, citing particular examples.
The client is suffering from gender identity disorder that is characterized by the feeling of not belonging to one's own gender defined at birth, involvement in cross-dressing, and engaging in sexual activities where he plays the passive role. It is clinically established based on the symptoms explained in DSM IV where the above-mentioned symptoms are stated. It is also called Gender Dysphoria in DSM V.
2. What is the opinion of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) regarding diagnosing an individual with these challenges? Why?
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) specializes in helping people with gender dysphoria which is distress caused by their own gender not matching their gender identity. According to WPATH, there are minimum requirements to be eligible to undergo sex reassignment surgery and it needs to have multiple letters from their member physicians who should maintain a history of the patient along with all related factors.
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) is focussed on making people, specifically transexual and transgender people feel better and happy by aligning their physical identity to match the gender identity. It is their purpose and goal to establish adequate standards of care so that sex reassignment surgeries are carried out with full consent and proper medical knowledge.
3. What are some of the new approaches clinicians are using to support an individual with such challenges?
New approaches include better diagnosis and detailed analysis of their state of mind. Puberty blockers, hormones, and surgery and some possible treatment options to make the client feel better. But, it is not possible to know whether the client is fully aware of their gender identity or is going through some other trauma associated with belonging to their birth gender. Hormonal therapy is the most commonly applied one. In the recent years though, talk therapy has gained momentum and people who have benefitted from talk therapy have either realized that it was just a phase or have wholeheartedly decided to embrace their gender identity and undergo sex reassignment.
4. Tell me some of the challenges that these particular folks struggle with socially. Please offer concise, detailed explanations.
Bullying is the most common challenge. They are shunned and even called names for their gender identity especially when it is in contrast with who they are at birth. They have a higher likelihood of being exploited for sexual favors, therefore, making them more susceptible to sexually transmitted illnesses. There is a stigma associated with belonging to a different gender and it makes everyday life difficult, because family and friends who are not supportive, become abusive. They are forced to live in their gender and remain quiet - literally closeted. There is difficulty in getting jobs, and even having comfortable relationships that are not hidden. In all ways, they are asked to be someone they actually are not.
Textbook: Whitbourne, S. K. (2017). Abnormal psychology: Clinical perspectives on psychological disorders. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education. *Argument must be clear and concise. Support argument wi...