Dr. Paul McHugh, former psychiatrist-in-chief for Johns Hopkins Hospital, has stated that transgenderism is a mental disorder and that sex changes are biologically impossible.
In an article for The Wall Street Journal, Dr. McHugh argues that transgenderism is a “mental disorder” that should be treated with psychotherapy, not surgery.
He writes, “I am ever trying to be the boy among the bystanders who points to what’s real. I do so not only because truth matters, but also because overlooked amid the hoopla—enhanced now by Bruce Jenner’s celebrity and Annie Leibovitz’s photography—stand many victims.”
Dr. McHugh explains that studies show people who believe themselves to be transgender have a higher rate of psychiatric disorders, including depression and suicidal thoughts, than the general population.
He also points out that people who undergo sex-reassignment surgery do not experience the same improvement in mental health that people who receive other forms of medical treatment for their conditions do.
Dr. McHugh further argues that the idea of gender identity is so vague that it cannot be relied upon as a basis for diagnosing and treating patients.
He writes, “The idea that one’s sex is a feeling, not a fact, has permeated our culture and is leaving casualties in its wake. Gender dysphoria should be treated with psychotherapy, not surgery.”
In conclusion, Dr. McHugh believes that the treatment of transgenderism should focus on addressing the underlying mental health issues instead of providing sex change operations.