The Transgender Journey and its Psychiatric Implications: A Case Observation and Comparative Analysis between Transgenderism and Clinical Lycanthropy

Abstract

Introduction: The paper deals with gender dysphoria (gender identity) and helps the reader understand that people are not born in wrong bodies thus linking the understanding with unnatural behaviour. Methods: The second part compares transgenderism with a psychiatric condition: clinical lycanthropy. We see a case of someone believing he was a bird and how he was cured. Results: The author highlights similarities between the two conditions. In both scenarios there could be delusions and the individuals are unhappy with their bodies. The unshakeable belief in drastically changing one’s body is not normal and should receive psychological or psychiatric treatment. Conclusion: A number of bioethical statements are presented. The author reminds healthcare workers to adhere to the medical principle of ‘first do no harm’ when considering gender affirmative treatment and advises that political decisions should not be based on just palliative approaches. It is concluded that gender remains binary. The transgender or third gender is a socio-political