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18 - Psychiatry of Gender and Sexuality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2021

By
Aaron S Breslow
Edited by
Audrey Walker ,
Steven Schlozman  and
Jonathan Alpert
Audrey Walker
Affiliation:
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York
Steven Schlozman
Affiliation:
Harvard Medical School
Jonathan Alpert
Affiliation:
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York
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Summary

The current chapter focuses on the complex, socially informed, and constantly evolving concepts of gender identity and sexual orientation. Although these topics are often taboo, they will arise in almost every interaction with patients in the medical setting. Gender identity and sexual orientation are present in everyone’s life and have implications for relationships, biology, and health. As such, this chapter will attempt to explain key concepts and terms in order to increase your ease discussing these issues with patients and colleagues. Although most people are raised to conceptualize gender identity and sexual orientation as inherent, biologically fixed aspects of our lives, the chapter will discuss these concepts as both biologically informed and socially constructed processes of human life. They will be explored in the context of their social, medical, and psychiatric implications in order to increase your comfort providing evidence-informed, affirming care for diverse and multifaceted patients.

Type
Chapter
Information
Introduction to Psychiatry
Preclinical Foundations and Clinical Essentials
 , pp. 448 - 472
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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References

References and Selected Readings

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