Adolescent identity: The importance of the social history

Laura Silverstein; Emily Zander; Amy B Middleman

doi:10.1177/2050313X20952980

Adolescent identity: The importance of the social history

SAGE Open Med Case Rep. 2020 Aug 26:8:2050313X20952980. doi: 10.1177/2050313X20952980. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Laura Silverstein¹, Emily Zander², Amy B Middleman³

Affiliations

¹ The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
² Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL, USA.
³ Department of Pediatrics, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.

Abstract

This is a unique case of a patient with trichotillomania, depression, and anxiety for 2 years, serving as coping strategies for underlying gender dysphoria. To our knowledge, a case of a patient presenting with this unique constellation of comorbid conditions has not previously been reported. This case stresses the importance of providers obtaining a full social history consistently and repeatedly while providing a nonjudgmental environment for patients to disclose sensitive and potentially fluid information related to gender identity and sexuality.

Keywords: Gender dysphoria; adolescent medicine; anxiety; gender identity; trichotillomania.

Publication types

Case Reports