At the congress of psychiatrists of Russia, homosexuality and transgenderism were called mental illnesses

Chief Physician at the “Phoenix” Medical and Rehabilitation Research Center Olga Bukhanovskaya spoke at the 18th Congress of Russian Psychiatrists about “transgender spectrum disorder,” which includes “five conditions,” including homosexuality. “Verstka” drew attention to Bukhanovskaya’s presentation.

Among these “disorders,” she also listed “fetishistic transvestism,” personality disorder, schizotypal disorder, and “schizophrenia combined with periodic effeminacy” (“effeminacy” is an outdated and incorrect term referring to “feminine-like behaviors” in men).

“It is precisely these five conditions that fall under the umbrella term ‘transgenderism.’ Just as people now use the term ‘autism spectrum disorder’ so elegantly, we can say ‘transgender spectrum disorder,’ and that includes all [of these] mental illnesses,” — Bukhanovskaya said.

A psychiatrist spoke about the “transgender epidemic”

According to her, transgender people are mimicking the “clinical symptoms of transsexualism.” The “transgender epidemic,” according to the psychiatrist, stems from the fact that people are exposed to propaganda, “undergo trans indoctrination,” and “have mentors on this issue.” “And they claim, ‘This is how I feel,’ and present symptoms that differ from those associated with transsexualism,” she says.

She identified “transsexualism” as a “condition” distinct from this spectrum, one from which people, in her view, are “afflicted” from birth. Bukhanovskaya also proposes introducing a new official definition for “transsexualism”: “A congenital, persistent, objectively and subjectively determinable inversion of an individual’s gender identity, socialization, and sexual orientation, while the individual is fully aware of their actual biological sex.”

In addition, Bukhanovskaya claims that there is a “fifth column within the medical community” in Russia that is engaged in “propaganda promoting transgenderism.” Among them, she named “trans-LGBT-friendly doctors” (adult and child psychiatrists, endocrinologists, gynecologists), “trans-LGBT-friendly psychologists,” and “trans-LGBT-friendly lecturers.”

Since 2022, the medical community has not considered transgenderism to be a disease

According to the ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases), “transsexualism” is defined as “the desire to live and be perceived by others as a person of the opposite sex.” was considered disorder. However, in the ICD-11, which took effect in 2022, this item was removed from the list excluded. Russia, however, suspended its transition to ICD-11 in 2024 due to complaints that the new standards conflicted with traditional values.

Olga Bukhanovskaya is the daughter of psychiatrist Alexander Bukhanovsky, who compiled a psychological profile of the serial killer Andrei Chikatilo. She proposes treating “transsexualism” using her father’s methods.