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Date of Award
Spring 2024
Degree Name
Master of Medical Science (Physician Assistant)
Department
Physician Assistant; College of Health Sciences
First Advisor
Lisa Akselrad
Abstract
With the current political climate increasing its focus on medicine, especially on the rights of transgender individuals and their parents, it is important to understand the challenges gender dysphoric and transgender patients face. Maintaining positive mental health is one of these many challenges. Gender dysphoric and transgender individuals have an increased risk of anxiety, depression, and suicide, and it is the provider’s duty to recognize and address these issues. In physician assistant school, students are taught about the standardized patient. They are told to respect the patient and their pronouns but rarely go more in depth about the healthcare associated with patients that do not fit the norm. There is limited time in the students’ didactic year, but with legislation constantly changing and targeting healthcare professions’ scope of practice, it is important to learn about all populations. Different populations have different medical needs, especially gender dysphoric and transgender populations. This article will focus on terminology that may be familiar to some providers, mental health challenges, and approaches to treatment for gender dysphoric and transgender patients.
Recommended Citation
Schulte, Kyle, "Addressing Mental Health in Gender Incongruence and Gender Dysphoria" (2024). Capstone Showcase. 51.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2024/pa/51
Addressing Mental Health in Gender Incongruence and Gender Dysphoria
With the current political climate increasing its focus on medicine, especially on the rights of transgender individuals and their parents, it is important to understand the challenges gender dysphoric and transgender patients face. Maintaining positive mental health is one of these many challenges. Gender dysphoric and transgender individuals have an increased risk of anxiety, depression, and suicide, and it is the provider’s duty to recognize and address these issues. In physician assistant school, students are taught about the standardized patient. They are told to respect the patient and their pronouns but rarely go more in depth about the healthcare associated with patients that do not fit the norm. There is limited time in the students’ didactic year, but with legislation constantly changing and targeting healthcare professions’ scope of practice, it is important to learn about all populations. Different populations have different medical needs, especially gender dysphoric and transgender populations. This article will focus on terminology that may be familiar to some providers, mental health challenges, and approaches to treatment for gender dysphoric and transgender patients.