Transsexualism: Nosological, legal and psychiatric aspects

Transsexualism is manifested by a strong and persistent cross-gender identification and the desire to adapt the body to the preferred sex by hormonal and surgical sex reassignment. In Italy (as in many other countries), transsexuals can now be lawfully treated and psychiatrists can be called by a judge to execute an expert's report for allowing surgical operation (L. 164/1982). In this article, the authors examine the current concept of Gender Identity Disorder (GID) and try to deal with the still-open nosological and legal-psychiatric disptutes to facilitate consultant's work.