Akademiliv

Sahlgrenska akademins nyheter

På Svenska
University of Gothenburg Logotype
  • News
  • Notices
  • Calendar
  • Grants
  • About Akademiliv

Professor Mikael Landén wins award for Article of the Year

4 February, 2020

DISTINCTION. Mikael Landén, professor of psychiatry at the University of Gothenburg, is the winner of the 2019 Article of the Year award given by Läkartidningen. He won in one of the six categories (commentary) for an article about the influx of young patients with gender dysphoria.

Under the title “The increase in gender dysphoria among young people requires consideration”, he describes the situation facing the health care system and the state of research. Reactions were immediate in the comments to the article: “Wonderful!”, “Excellent!”, “Long needed!”, “Thank you!”.

Mikael Landén.

“We know very little about how treatment is offered, and we know very little about how it works out for these individuals. We are talking about young people who sometimes receive irreversible treatments, including sex change treatments,” he says.

“My point was that we do not know what is behind this dramatic increase of young people looking for help for gender dysphoria. The explanation that it is related to changes in Swedish legislation does not hold up since the increase can be seen internationally. There is also no support for reduced stigmatization over the years that the increase has occurred. I believe it is something else. I don’t know what, but it has to be taken seriously and studied.”

Very little research

Mikael Landén was part of a group that in the autumn conducted a systematic review of the research for the Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services (SBU) on the state of current research. SBU was tasked by the government to examine the issue, and the report was presented in December.

“The study was a quick job. We lacked time to grade the evidence, but the report still clearly showed that there is not enough research in the field. On the other hand, the phenomenon with increasing numbers of young patients is new, so there has almost not been enough time to do any research.”

According to Landén, over ten years, the situation has gone from a handful of patients with gender dysphoria per year to hundreds. And the trend is for the increase to continue.

Fevered pitch to the debate

“In such a situation, the medical system needs to take a step back and ask if this larger group of patients are helped by the same treatment as was previously reserved for a very small and carefully chosen group. Perhaps so, I don’t know, but it must be studied.”

Is this a mine field?

“Yes, there is a fevered pitch to the debate in any case, says Landén. Some people have this image of crazy doctors and psychologists doing strange experiments on our children but that isn’t the case. The health care system continues primarily treating patients in the same way as before. But with the rise of new groups looking for treatment, there isn’t evidence for which measures help and which measures may do more harm than good.

We have to look at this as a medical question. It isn’t a human right to receive sex change treatment, just as it isn’t a human right to receive a knee operation. We have a group of suffering patients who are seeking care. As such, we have to know that they will actually be helped by the treatment.”

Läkartidningen: Winner of the Article of the Year announced: http://lakartidningen.se/Aktuellt/Nyheter/2020/01/Vinnarna-i-Arets-artikel-utsedda-/

TEXT: MARGARETA GUSTAVSSON KUBISTA

By: Elin Lindström
Tagged With: institutionen för neurovetenskap och fysiologi

Add your own events in the Akademiliv Calendar

No newsletter during the sports holiday – Wednesday, February 15

Information from Sahlgrenska Academy Research Support Office

[UPDATED JAN 24]
The Sahlgrenska Academy Research Support Office provides an overview of upcoming and current calls, nominations and events in an information letter. This letter is updated approximately four times per semester.

’20 minutes for researchers’ is back – see full spring program

During 20 minutes over Zoom, the Biomedical Library gives tips on tools and services that can facilitate your research everyday life.

We are building at Medicinareberget

You will now find comprehensive information on construction projects that affect the Sahlgrenska Academy in the Staff Portal.

Lunch menus

Café Anatomen
Menu not available on website.

Café Annedal
Menu not available on website.

Lunchen.nu

Lustgården på Änggårdsbacken
Take away for external guests between 11.00-12.30 weekdays.

Lyktan

Mersmak Mölndal

Mersmak Sahlgrenska

Mersmak Östra

Salt & Syra

More news

New thesis: Higher risk of future accidental bowel leakage after sphincter injury

3 February, 2023

THESIS. A study that was part of a recent doctoral thesis at the Institute of Clinical Sciences reports a significantly higher risk of developing …  

Formal ceremony for Zealous and Devoted Service

3 February, 2023

ACADEMIC CEREMONIES. On Wednesday, January 25, the University invited a 68 staff members to a ceremony to receive their Zealous and Devoted …  

Nominations for Honorary Doctors 2023 is open

2 February, 2023

HONORARY DOCTOR. All staff at Sahlgrenska Academy may nominate honorary doctorates. The appointments are evidence of the faculty’s appreciation, a …  

Depression and low quality of life 30 years after chemical attack

27 January, 2023

NEW STUDY. Mustard gas harms the vision, skin and breathing. Three decades on, however, the predominant effect is mental ill-health. At a time …  

Testing a immunological drug as a new treatment for early type 1 diabetes

26 January, 2023

CLINICAL STUDY. A large clinical study is now beginning on an approved drug for treating psoriasis. The drug will be tested on patients who were …  

Emma Eckernäs: GU now surveying doctoral students’ work environment too

25 January, 2023

COLUMN. For the first time, the work environment survey (ARK) at the University of Gothenburg (GU) now contains a sub-survey aimed specifically …  

Nominate for the award “PhD Thesis of the Year”

24 January, 2023

AWARD. Do you know of a really good thesis that was defended last year? Until February 7, you can nominate for the Sahlgrenska Academy's PhD …  

New legislation for clinical trials of medicinal products

24 January, 2023

RESEARCH RESOURCES. New EU legislation for clinical trials of medicinal products will be phased in over the coming years. All new applications …  

Joining forces for research on asthma, allergy, and airways

24 January, 2023

RESEARCH CONDITIONS. "Breathe Sweden", a digital platform for researchers who collect studies on diseases and disorders of the respiratory tract, …  

Fewer surgically treated ankle fractures with a clear-cut treatment routine

24 January, 2023

DOCTORAL THESIS. It has been shown that the percentage of ankle fractures that undergo surgery could be substantially reduced, from more than 30 …  

More news...

Sahlgrenska Academy

© University of Gothenburg
PO-Box 100, S-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
Phone: 00 46 31 786 0000

About the website

Elin Lindström is editor for Akademiliv.
Please feel free to send your ideas and comments to akademiliv@gu.se

Sign up for the Akademiliv newsletter:

Send you tips to Akademiliv

Do you have a suggestion for news, grants, seminars or an education?
Send an email to Elin Lindström Claessen