BACKGROUND: This study examined psychiatric comorbidity in adolescents with a gender identity disorder (GID). We focused on its relation to gender, type of GID diagnosis and eligibility for medical interventions (puberty suppression and cross-sex hormones). METHODS: To ascertain DSM-IV diagnoses, the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC) was administered to parents of 105 gender dysphoric adolescents. RESULTS: 67.6% had no concurrent psychiatric disorder. Anxiety disorders occurred in 21%, mood disorders in 12.4% and disruptive disorders in 11.4% of the adolescents. Compared with natal females (n = 52), natal males (n = 53) suffered more often from two or more comorbid diagnoses (22.6% vs. 7.7%, p = .03), mood disorders (20.8% vs. 3.8%, p = .008) and social anxiety disorder (15.1% vs. 3.8%, p = .049). Adolescents with GID considered to be 'delayed eligible' for medical treatment were older [15.6 years (SD = 1.6) vs. 14.1 years (SD = 2.2), p = .001], their intelligence was lower [91.6 (SD = 12.4) vs. 99.1 (SD = 12.8), p = .011] and a lower percentage was living with both parents (23% vs. 64%, p < .001). Although the two groups did not differ in the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity, the respective odds ratios ('delayed eligible' adolescents vs. 'immediately eligible' adolescents) were >1.0 for all psychiatric diagnoses except specific phobia. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the suffering resulting from the incongruence between experienced and assigned gender at the start of puberty, the majority of gender dysphoric adolescents do not have co-occurring psychiatric problems. Delayed eligibility for medical interventions is associated with psychiatric comorbidity although other factors are of importance as well.
BACKGROUND: This study examined psychiatric comorbidity in adolescents with a gender identity disorder (GID). We focused on its relation to gender, type of GID diagnosis and eligibility for medical interventions (puberty suppression and cross-sex hormones). METHODS: To ascertain DSM-IV diagnoses, the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC) was administered to parents of 105 gender dysphoric adolescents. RESULTS: 67.6% had no concurrent psychiatric disorder. Anxiety disorders occurred in 21%, mood disorders in 12.4% and disruptive disorders in 11.4% of the adolescents. Compared with natal females (n = 52), natal males (n = 53) suffered more often from two or more comorbid diagnoses (22.6% vs. 7.7%, p = .03), mood disorders (20.8% vs. 3.8%, p = .008) and social anxiety disorder (15.1% vs. 3.8%, p = .049). Adolescents with GID considered to be 'delayed eligible' for medical treatment were older [15.6 years (SD = 1.6) vs. 14.1 years (SD = 2.2), p = .001], their intelligence was lower [91.6 (SD = 12.4) vs. 99.1 (SD = 12.8), p = .011] and a lower percentage was living with both parents (23% vs. 64%, p < .001). Although the two groups did not differ in the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity, the respective odds ratios ('delayed eligible' adolescents vs. 'immediately eligible' adolescents) were >1.0 for all psychiatric diagnoses except specific phobia. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the suffering resulting from the incongruence between experienced and assigned gender at the start of puberty, the majority of gender dysphoric adolescents do not have co-occurring psychiatric problems. Delayed eligibility for medical interventions is associated with psychiatric comorbidity although other factors are of importance as well.
Authors: Yolanda N Evans; Samantha J Gridley; Julia Crouch; Alicia Wang; Megan A Moreno; Kym Ahrens; David J Breland Journal: Transgend Health Date: 2017-08-01
Authors: Thomas D Steensma; Kenneth J Zucker; Baudewijntje P C Kreukels; Doug P Vanderlaan; Hayley Wood; Amanda Fuentes; Peggy T Cohen-Kettenis Journal: J Abnorm Child Psychol Date: 2014-05
Authors: Sari L Reisner; Tonia Poteat; JoAnne Keatley; Mauro Cabral; Tampose Mothopeng; Emilia Dunham; Claire E Holland; Ryan Max; Stefan D Baral Journal: Lancet Date: 2016-06-17 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Tracy A Becerra-Culqui; Yuan Liu; Rebecca Nash; Lee Cromwell; W Dana Flanders; Darios Getahun; Shawn V Giammattei; Enid M Hunkeler; Timothy L Lash; Andrea Millman; Virginia P Quinn; Brandi Robinson; Douglas Roblin; David E Sandberg; Michael J Silverberg; Vin Tangpricha; Michael Goodman Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2018-04-16 Impact factor: 7.124