@article{discovery10187308, pages = {1106--1123}, volume = {27}, note = {This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.}, publisher = {SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC}, year = {2022}, title = {Key socio-demographic characteristics of children and adolescents with gender dysphoria: A British Isles surveillance study}, journal = {Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry}, month = {October}, number = {4}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13591045221108840}, author = {Khadr, Sophie and Masic, Una and Clarke, Venetia and Lynn, Richard M and Holt, Victoria and Carmichael, Polly}, issn = {1359-1045}, abstract = {The present research used linked surveillance systems (British Paediatric Surveillance Unit; and the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Surveillance System) over a 19 month period (1 November 2011-31 May 2013) to notify of young people (4-15.9 years) presenting to secondary care (paediatrics or child and adolescent mental health services) or specialist gender services with features of gender dysphoria (GD). A questionnaire about socio-demographic, mental health, and GD features was completed. Presence of GD was then assessed by experts in the field using then-current criteria (DSM-IV-TR). Incidence across the British Isles was 0.41-12.23 per 100,000. 230 confirmed cases of GD were noted; the majority were white (94\%), aged {$\ge$}12 years (75.3\%), and were assigned female at birth (57.8\%). Assigned males presented most commonly in pre-adolescence (63.2\%), and assigned females in adolescence (64.7\%). Median age-of-onset of experiencing GD was 9.5 years (IQR 5-12); the majority reported long-standing features (2-5 years in 36.1\%, {$\ge$}5 years in 26.5\%). Only 82.5\% attended mainstream school. Bullying was reported in 47.4\%, previous self-harm in 35.2\%, neurodiversity in 16\%, and 51.5\% had {$\ge$}1 mental health condition. These findings suggest GD is rare within this age group but that monitoring wellbeing and ensuring support for co-occurring difficulties is vital.}, keywords = {Gender dysphoria, child, adolescent, mental health, transgender, gender diverse, gender distress} }