Abstract
Markedly effeminate behavior in a young boy is a source of concern and confusion for parents, teachers, and the child. It also represents a therapeutic dilemma for the child psychiatrist. The case of a five-year-old boy with gender identity disorder of childhood is presented and the literature on hypotheses of etiology, treatment, and long-term follow-up is reviewed. The ethical and philosophical questions posed by such a case are discussed.
Full text
PDF







Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Bates J. E., Skilbeck W. M., Smith K. V., Bentler P. M. Intervention with families of gender-disturbed boys. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 1975 Jan;45(1):150–157. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-0025.1975.tb01176.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ehrhardt A. A., Epstein R., Money J. Fetal androgens and female gender identity in the early-treated adrenogenital syndrome. Johns Hopkins Med J. 1968 Mar;122(3):160–167. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Green R. Childhood cross-gender behavior and subsequent sexual preference. Am J Psychiatry. 1979 Jan;136(1):106–108. doi: 10.1176/ajp.136.1.106. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pruett K. D., Dahl E. K. Psychotherapy of gender identity conflict in young boys. J Am Acad Child Psychiatry. 1982 Jan;21(1):65–70. doi: 10.1097/00004583-198201000-00011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Stoller R. J. Boyhood gender aberrations: treatment issues. J Am Psychoanal Assoc. 1978;26(3):541–558. doi: 10.1177/000306517802600304. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Whitam F. L. Childhood indicators of male homosexuality. Arch Sex Behav. 1977 Mar;6(2):89–96. doi: 10.1007/BF01541701. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- YOUNG W. C., GOY R. W., PHOENIX C. H. HORMONES AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOR. Science. 1964 Jan 17;143(3603):212–218. doi: 10.1126/science.143.3603.212. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Zuger B. Effeminate behavior present in boys from childhood: ten additional years of follow-up. Compr Psychiatry. 1978 Jul-Aug;19(4):363–369. doi: 10.1016/0010-440x(78)90019-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
