Changes

'''Gender identity disorder''' is a medical diagnosis for a mental disorder according to the DSM IV, which indicates a "strong and persistent cross-gender identification." <ref>http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/genderiddis.htm</ref>  In previous versions of the DSM, this had been called "Gender Dysphoria", but now that term is used specifically to refer to a specific psychological criterion of GID which requires that "there must also be evidence of persistent discomfort about one's assigned sex or a sense of inappropriateness in the gender role of that sex." <ref>http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/genderiddis.htm</ref> Clinically, homosexuality alone does not satisfy this criterion, as it requires discomfort in social, and interpersonal roles, not simply in sexual roles. However, homosexuality is a strongly affirming element of this criterion, when present in conjunction with discomfort in the other roles.

'''Gender identity disorder''' is a medical diagnosis for a mental disorder according to the DSM IV, which indicates a "strong and persistent cross-gender identification." <ref>http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/genderiddis.htm</ref>  In previous versions of the DSM, this had been called "Gender Dysphoria", but now that term is used specifically to refer to a specific psychological criterion of GID which requires that "there must also be evidence of persistent discomfort about one's assigned sex or a sense of inappropriateness in the gender role of that sex." <ref>http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/genderiddis.htm</ref> Clinically, homosexuality alone does not satisfy this criterion, as it requires discomfort in social, and interpersonal roles, not simply in sexual roles. However, homosexuality is a strongly affirming element of this criterion, when present in conjunction with discomfort in the other roles.

In the ICD, this mental disorder remains known as the more common term "'''transsexualism'''", which as its first diagnostic criterion requires the individual to have a "desire to live and be accepted as a member of the opposite sex, usually accompanied by the wish to make his or her body as congruent as possible with the preferred sex through surgery and hormone treatment." As with gender dysphoria, homosexuality alone does not clinically satisfy this criterion, but is strongly affirming when in conjunction with other desires to be the opposite sex.

In the ICD, this mental disorder remains known as the more common term "'''transsexualism'''", which as its first diagnostic criterion requires the individual to have a "desire to live and be accepted as a member of the opposite sex, usually accompanied by the wish to make his or her body as congruent as possible with the preferred sex through surgery and hormone treatment." As with gender dysphoria, homosexuality alone does not clinically satisfy this criterion, but is strongly affirming when in conjunction with other desires to [[sex change|be the opposite sex]].

A set of International Standards of Care <ref>http://www.wpath.org/Documents2/socv6.pdf</ref> guide most physicians, and therapists around the world in a widely accepted medical process that begins with a form of [[Reparative Therapy]], which is intended to dissuade patients from the permanent and irreversible physical alterations that could seriously damage their mental health.  Patients are expected, and strongly encouraged to attempt to resolve this disorder without physical intervention, however when such therapy has been found to not make a positive impact on the patient's mental health, then the standards indicate physical interventions, which are focused and intended to improve the mental health of the patient, or ease their assimilation into the new role in order to alleviate stress from societal, and cultural pressures against transsexualism.

A set of International Standards of Care <ref>http://www.wpath.org/Documents2/socv6.pdf</ref> guide most physicians, and therapists around the world in a widely accepted medical process that begins with a form of [[Reparative Therapy]], which is intended to dissuade patients from the permanent and irreversible physical alterations that could seriously damage their mental health.  Patients are expected, and strongly encouraged to attempt to resolve this disorder without physical intervention, however when such therapy has been found to not make a positive impact on the patient's mental health, then the standards indicate physical interventions, which are focused and intended to improve the mental health of the patient, or ease their assimilation into the new role in order to alleviate stress from societal, and cultural pressures against transsexualism.