Final answer:
Gender Dysphoria in children is the distress arising from a mismatch between one's gender identity and assigned sex at birth, requiring a persistent duration of at least six months for DSM-5 diagnosis. It was updated from the term 'Gender Identity Disorder' to reduce stigma and maintain access to healthcare, and the WHO classifies it now under sexual health.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gender Dysphoria in children refers to the distress experienced when a child's gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. According to the DSM-5, for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, this condition must persist for at least six months and result in significant distress or dysfunction.
Furthermore, children must verbally express the desire to be another gender to meet diagnostic criteria. After years of debate over the stigmatizing effects of the term 'Gender Identity Disorder', the DSM-5 has replaced it with Gender Dysphoria to alleviate stigma while maintaining necessary healthcare access for those requiring treatment, such as hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery. In 2019, the World Health Organization reclassified the condition as 'gender incongruence' and categorized it under sexual health rather than as a mental disorder. Despite societal challenges, especially regarding acceptance in children, recognition of gender nonconformity is crucial for the well-being of those affected.