ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author focuses on research that has examined associated psychopathology in children with gender identity disorder (GID). He explains why research is potentially important for the understanding of children with GID. First, understanding the nature and patterning of associated psychopathology may be helpful in clarifying aetiological factors with regard to GID; second, even if inconclusive regarding aetiological matters, may have relevance for clinical care. In general, parental influences view considers the genesis of the GID in the context of more global problems in the child's development and familial psychopathology. The data suggest that boys and girls with GID show signs of insecure attachment to the mother, which is consistent with observations of family psychopathology that it is likely to interfere with the quality of mother-child relations. The predominance of internalizing psychopathology may reflect familial risk for affective disorders and temperamental features of the boys.
