NCTE Responds to the Proposed DSM Revisions
http://transgenderequality.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/ncte-responds-to-the-proposed-dsm-revisions/This year, the American Psychiatric Association unveiled proposed changes to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (commonly known as the DSM), which provides information to clinicians diagnosing and treating mental health conditions. The DSM is revised periodically and reflects changes in attitudes and treatments among practitioners; this will be the fifth edition. NCTE applauds the inclusion of transgender people and the clinicians who serve our community in the current revision process; their input has clearly impacted the emphasis on reducing stigma and providing appropriate and supportive care.
The proposals include significant revisions to the sections on gender identity, including replacing Gender Identity Disorder with the term Gender Incongruence (GI). The stated rationale points out that this more closely reflects the condition experienced by transgender people and is less stigmatizing. By focusing on incongruence, the new diagnosis will also mean that once congruence is achieved through whatever treatments are deemed appropriate by the patient and the professionals involved in his/her care, the person will cease to have a diagnosable condition. The previous guidelines did not provide a means to resolution in this way.
