The ICD-11 classification of gender incongruence of adolescence and adulthood: adequacy among transgender people in Lebanon. Issue 1 (2nd January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Khoury, Brigitte; El Khoury, Joseph; Fresán Orellana, Ana; Daouk, Sariah; Khauli, Nicole; Ramadan, Zeina; Reed, Geoffrey M.; Robles, Rebecca
• Is Part Of: Culture, health & sexuality. Volume 23:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 131
• Page End: 142
• Publication Date: 2021-01-02
• Subjects: Gender incongruence -- transgender -- Lebanon -- distress -- ICD – 11; Sex -- Periodicals; Sex -- Cross-cultural studies -- Periodicals; Sex -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; 306.705
• DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2019.1692907
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-1058

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the adequacy of the then proposed International Classification of Diseases version 11 (ICD-11) diagnostic guidelines for Gender Incongruence of Adolescence and Adulthood in a sample of transgender people accessing multi-disciplinary health care services at specialised organisations in Lebanon. The cross-sectional study reported here was part of the ICD-11 field test studies that took place in several countries. Twenty-eight Arab transgender adults residing in Lebanon were recruited after giving consent to participate in a structured interview with a mental health professional. The questions asked of them consisted of the following: socio-demographic data; medical history related to gender identity; experiences of gender incongruence; psychological distress; rejection; violence; and functional impairment. Results showed that Arab transgender individuals living in Lebanon report being the victims of violence, abuse, discrimination and rejection from family, peers and society in general. As a result, they develop psychological distress that is better explained by the social context in which they live, rather than by their transgender identity. Reformulating ICD-10 Transsexualism as Gender Incongruence of Adolescence and Adulthood in ICD-11 and moving this diagnosis out of the chapter on mental disorders chapter would be favourable to the Lebanese sample.