09:00-11:05 | Room A Monday Online Presentation Session 1

Mental Health

Session Chair: Himanshu Gupta

10:15-10:40

68152 | Gender Dysphoria and Mental Health Challenges: A Retrospective Perspective and Contemporary Perspective of the Evidence-Based in Literature

Anu Malik, The LNM Institute of Information Technology, India

Gender dysphoria is a psychiatric condition in which people experience incongruence between their gender identity and the gender assigned at birth. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) states guidelines to diagnose gender dysphoria for adolescents and adults. The condition often begins in childhood, but some may experience it as late as puberty or much later. This paper aims to understand the challenges faced by people who have experienced gender dysphoria in the last two decades. The author also compares and maps the research trends in the previous two decades: The retrospective view (2001-2011) and the contemporary view (2012-2022). In the retrospective view, the literature highlights three significant themes: Bullying, Social Affirmations, and Interpersonal Conflicts. From the contemporary perspective, the literature considers more severe mental health challenges; there are five significant themes: Identity Issues and Dissonance, Self-rejection and Transphobia, Low Sense of Well-being and Self-esteem, and Stigma experiences and Suicidal Ideation. Gender dysphoria and the mental health challenges associated with the complex interplay between an individual's conflicts and dissonance related to their gender identity and gender expressions. Future research should focus on building robust counseling programs based on socio-cultural acceptance and mental health challenges that people who experience gender dysphoria face.

10:40-11:05

69030 | Exploring Social Meaning of Relational Trauma Through Social Dreaming in Patients With Depression

Anasuya Dasgupta, Central Institute of Psychiatry, India

Preeti Gupta, Central Institute of Psychiatry, India

Umesh S, Central Institute of Psychiatry, India

Background/ Aim: Social Dreaming Matrix (SDM) provides a pathway for healing collective trauma as it generates communal recognition while witnessing complex traumatic experiences. However, there is very limited research, and has not been explored in a clinical population. Previous literature mentions how relational trauma has been a significant risk factor for depression and how such patients experience certain disturbing content of dreams. Hence, this study explores these dream contents and themes of relational trauma using the SDM paradigm, along with their illness perception and social connectedness. Method:15 male participants with unipolar depression were selected via purposive sampling and administered Childhood Attachment and Relational Trauma Screening (CARTS), Illness Perception Scale and Social Connectedness Scale. Out of these, 10 participants were selected randomly and arranged in 2 SDMs, with 5 participants each and 2 sessions were conducted for 2 SDMs. Results and Conclusion: A total of 52 dreams were shared revolving around themes of family conflict, societal stigma and worthlessness, incompleteness and symbols of snakes, cliffs, mirrors, etc to a transition from hopelessness to hopefulness. Therefore, SDM serves as a gateway to social connectedness and a newer perception of illness. Furthermore, SDM may serve as a tool in future group-based intervention.