Rapid-onset gender dysphoria controversy

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Rapid-onset gender dysphoria (ROGD) is a controversial, scientifically unsupported hypothesis which claims that some adolescents identify as transgender and experience gender dysphoria due to peer influence and social contagion.[5] ROGD is not recognized as a valid mental health diagnosis by any major professional associations. The APA, WPATH and 60 other medical professional organizations have called for its elimination from clinical settings due to a lack of reputable scientific evidence for the concept, major methodological issues in existing research, and its stigmatization of gender-affirming care for transgender youth.[3][4][6][7]

The paper initially proposing the concept was based on surveys of parents of transgender youth recruited from three anti-trans websites;[3][4] following its publication, it was re-reviewed and a correction was issued highlighting that ROGD is not a clinically validated phenomenon.[11] Since the paper's publication, the concept has frequently been cited in legislative attempts to restrict the rights of transgender youth.[3][4][6]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Wadman was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference CHE was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference Kesslen-2022 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c d e Broderick, Timmy (August 24, 2023). "Evidence Undermines 'Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria' Claims". Scientific American. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  5. ^ Multiple sources.
    • For the controversy, see Wadman (2018)[1] and Bartlett (2019).[2]
    • For the lack of scientific evidence, see Kesslen (2022)[3] and Broderick (2023).[4]
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference CAAPS-2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference WPATH-2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Knutson, David (16 September 2016). "PLOS appoints Dr. Joerg Heber Editor-in-Chief of PLOS ONE | The Official PLOS Blog". Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Heber-2019b was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference PLOSCorrection was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Not a clinically validated phenomenon:
    • From the MIT Technology Review: "PLOS One reissued the study with a large correction emphasizing that Littman's paper was simply a 'descriptive, exploratory' one and had not been clinically validated."[3]
    • From Scientific American: "The American Psychological Association and 61 other health care providers’ organizations signed a letter in 2021 denouncing the validity of rapid-onset gender dysphoria (ROGD) as a clinical diagnosis."[4]
    • Joerg Heber, speaking in 2019 as editor-in-chief of PLOS One,[8] which published Littman's article and the correction, wrote the following, in an apology published at PLOS One: "In our view, the corrected article now provides a better context of the work, as a report of parental observations, but not a clinically validated phenomenon or a diagnostic guideline."[9]
    • In a correction of the original article published in PLOS One in 2019, author Lisa Littman stated: "Rapid-onset gender dysphoria (ROGD) is not a formal mental health diagnosis at this time. This report did not collect data from the adolescents and young adults (AYAs) or clinicians and therefore does not validate the phenomenon."[10]