Gender dysphoria in children and adolescents is a complex phenomenon, for which the number of requests for consultation in clinical settings is growing; however, in Italy, there is a very limited number of gender clinics across the country providing assistance in line with international standards of care and guidelines.
This paper aims at offering an overview on gender variance and gender dysphoria in children and adolescents, focusing on: diagnosis (according to DSM-5 criteria) and differential diagnosis; clinical picture and associated disorders; epidemiology and gender differences; clinical course and models of intervention.
Finally, ethical dilemmas in the medical treatment of gender dysphoric adolescents will be discussed. Early medical interventions, including GnRH analogues, represent a very promising treatment option, which might improve the quality of life and reduce psychological distress in transgender teenagers.
Key words: gender dypshoria, children, adolescents, differential diagnosis