More Kids Treated for Gender Issues

More children are seeking support and treatment for gender identity disorder, new research finds. These children are at high risk of psychological illness, the articles say. The journal Pediatrics published the articles. One reports that Children’s Hospital in Boston is treating 19 patients a year for gender identity disorder. This compares with about 4 per year in the late 1990s. In a commentary, a doctor from Galveston, Texas, reports a similar increase. Treatment includes counseling. Children also can take drugs to stop puberty from occurring. Later, they can get hormones for the opposite sex. This can continue until they are old enough to decide whether to make the change permanent with surgery. The Boston study took a close look at 97 patients. Before entering the program, 45% had been treated for a psychological disorder.