A values-driven and evidence-based health care psychology for diverse sex development

Abstract

The integration of psychology into multidisciplinary care for people affected by 'disorders of sex development' is acknowledged in most recent care standard documents. However, psychological evidence that can inform service development is currently insubstantial for specific reasons, some of which are outlined in this article. We argue for psychological activities and their prioritisation to be equally driven by the professional values embedded in clinical psychology and to seek user input in key activities. These values include critical engagement with research literature, theoretically informed question and problem formulation, development of interventions to boost health and well-being, honouring of personal agency, equality and diversity, team development facilitation, psychological education and training for non-psychologists, audit and research that can benefit patients and contribution to social change. We outline target areas that reflect these values and, where possible, draw on empirical evidence developed in diverse sex development (DSD) and other clinical contexts to support our recommendations. © 2013 © 2013 Taylor & Francis.