Care for Adolescents with Gender Incongruence: Evolution, Evidence, and Guidelines

A webinar by the EPA Scientific Section on Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities

On the occasion of Pride Month 2026, the EPA is pleased to announce the webinar “Care for Adolescents with Gender Incongruence: Evolution, Evidence, and Guidelines”, taking place on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, from 16:30 to 18:00 CEST. This webinar is organised by the EPA Section on Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities.

DETAILS

Title: Care for Adolescents with Gender Incongruence: Evolution, Evidence, and Guidelines
Date: Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Time: 16:30 – 18:00 CET
Platform: Zoom
Registrations: Open

KEY LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Psychiatrists may benefit from a review of scientific research on the physical, mental, and social consequences of recommended care model for gender incongruent adolescents.

PROGRAMME

16:30 – 16:45 | Dr. Goetz Mundle & Dr. Koray Başar – Welcome, context and speakers’ introduction
16:45 – 17:10 | Dr. Annelou de Vries – Evolution of care model for adolescents with gender incongruence, evidence, and clinical perspective, and current challenges
17:10 – 17:35 | Dr. Lieselotte Mahler – Guideline on Gender Incongruence and Gender Dysphoria in Childhood and Adolescence – Diagnosis and Treatment
17:35 – 17:50 | Q&A Session
17:50 – 18:00 | Dr. Goetz Mundle & Dr. Koray Başar – Conclusions

ABSTRACT

Despite more than two decades of practice, mental health care for trans youth is highly discussed in professional and public spheres. The novelty has been introduced with ‘puberty suppression’, which includes a temporary and reversible interruption of pubertal development following a multidisciplinary assessment.

In recent years, there is evidence supporting the benefits of the so-called ‘Dutch protocol’, some follow-up data as well, suggesting the prevention of puberty-related increase in gender dysphoria and associated psychosocial challenges, and providing time for the adolescent, parents, and medical team for evaluation and exploration of gender-related pathways. However, critics followed the rise in research and practice of puberty suppression, with debates mostly on political rather than scientific grounds.

Nevertheless, globally, there is a documented increase in the demand for gender-related health care, especially in the adolescent age group. There are diverse regulations and practices among European countries with respect to the care for adolescents with gender incongruence. In some countries the clinical practice is shaped, sometimes limited, through public administrator’s and politicians’ decision, in others globally recognized guidelines lead the practice. Furthermore, recently, in addition to specialty specific expert consensus published, some national guidelines are available.

During the upcoming webinar, Dr. De Vries, the clinician and researcher involved with the development of the model, will briefly review the evolution of care, evidence, and clinical perspective and discuss current challenges. Recently, following years of meticulous review of evidence and discussion between elected representatives of professional organizations, a detailed guideline on care for adolescents has been published for German-speaking European countries. Dr. Mahler will introduce the guideline development process and present the essentials of its content.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Early career psychiatrists, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and psychological practitioners.

MODERATORS

Dr. Goetz Mundle, Chair of the EPA Section on Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities, Associate Professor, MD, University Tübingen, Clinical Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist, Mental Health Center for Refugees, Berlin, Germany – Biography
Dr. Koray Başar, Chair-Elect of the EPA Council of NPAs, Associate Professor, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye – Biography

SPEAKERS

Dr. Annelou de Vries, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Head of Child Psychiatry Department, Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria, Amsterdam UMC/ Levvel, Amsterdam Academic Center of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. President (2023-2025), European Professional Association of Transgender Health (EPATH), Amsterdam, Netherlands – Biography
Dr. Lieselotte Mahler, Co-Chair of the EPA Section on Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities, MD, Clinical Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist, Head of the Department Psychiatry und Psychotherapy, Theodor-Wenzel-Werk, Berlin, Germany – Biography