Tārīkh-i pizishkī i.e., Medical History

Vol. 17 (1404)

A Historical Review of Gender Dysphoria evolution: From Pathologization to Identity Acceptance

Tārīkh-i pizishkī i.e., Medical History, Vol. 17 (1404), 6 May 2025 , Page 1-11
https://doi.org/10.22037/mhj.v17i.48927

Abstract

Background and Aim: Gender dysphoria, defined as the psychological distress due to an incongruence between one’s experienced gender identity and sex assigned at birth, is a key concept in the fields of psychiatry, gender studies, mental health and human rights. This concept has undergone fundamental theoretical, diagnostic and therapeutic transformations in recent decades. This study aims to investigate the historical development of gender dysphoria from conceptual, clinical and socio-cultural perspectives.

Methods: This research is a narrative review with a historical-analytical approach, focusing on scientific sources published up to 2024. Data were gathered from reputable scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar and retrieved using specialized keywords related to gender dysphoria and its history. Data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis.

Ethical Considerations: Given that this study is a documentary and historical review involving secondary analysis of published sources, there was no need to obtain an ethical approval letter from human participants. However, all ethical principles concerning the citation of scientific sources, observance of authors' rights and responsible use of data were adhered to.

Results: The findings indicate that in pre-modern societies, gender dysphoria was often accompanied by cultural and ritual acceptance as part of human diversity. With the expansion of medicalization discourse in the modern era, this phenomenon was classified as a mental disorder. In recent decades, significant strides have been made towards destigmatization and recognition of gender identity through revisions in classifications in the DSM-5 (changing "gender identity disorder" to "gender dysphoria") and ICD-11 (moving it from mental disorders to the chapter on sexual health).

Conclusion: The evolution in understanding and addressing gender dysphoria reflects scientific progress and cultural, social and ethical changes in various societies. Examining the historical trends of this transformation can contribute to the development of evidence-based and equitable policies in the field of sexual health.

Keywords:
  • Gender Dysphoria
  • Gender Identity
  • History of Psychiatry
  • DSM
  • ICD
  • Medicalization

How to Cite

Khoshsourat, J., & Taheri Kharameh, Z. (2026). A Historical Review of Gender Dysphoria evolution: From Pathologization to Identity Acceptance. Tārīkh-I Pizishkī i.E., Medical History, 17, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.22037/mhj.v17i.48927

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