Walter Pierre Bouman1, Laurence Claes2, Ellen Marshall3, Gill T Pinner4, Julia Longworth5, Victoria Maddox5, Gemma Witcomb3, Susana Jimenez-Murcia6, Fernando Fernandez-Aranda6, Jon Arcelus7. 1. Nottingham Centre for Gender Dysphoria, Nottingham, United Kingdom. Electronic address: walterbouman@doctors.org.uk. 2. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. 3. Nottingham Centre for Gender Dysphoria, Nottingham, United Kingdom; School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, United Kingdom. 4. Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom. 5. Nottingham Centre for Gender Dysphoria, Nottingham, United Kingdom. 6. Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain. 7. Nottingham Centre for Gender Dysphoria, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: As referrals to gender identity clinics have increased dramatically over the last few years, no studies focusing on older trans people seeking treatment are available. AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of older trans people attending a national service and to investigate the influence of cross-sex hormones (CHT) on psychopathology. METHODS: Individuals over the age of 50 years old referred to a national gender identity clinic during a 30-month period were invited to complete a battery of questionnaires to measure psychopathology and clinical characteristics. Individuals on cross-sex hormones prior to the assessment were compared with those not on treatment for different variables measuring psychopathology. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sociodemographic and clinical variables and measures of depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), victimization (Experiences of Transphobia Scale), social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support), interpersonal functioning (Inventory of Interpersonal Problems), and nonsuicidal self-injury (Self-Injury Questionnaire). RESULTS: The sex ratio of trans females aged 50 years and older compared to trans males was 23.7:1. Trans males were removed for the analysis due to their small number (n = 3). Participants included 71 trans females over the age of 50, of whom the vast majority were white, employed or retired, and divorced and had children. Trans females on CHT who came out as trans and transitioned at an earlier age were significantly less anxious, reported higher levels of self-esteem, and presented with fewer socialization problems. When controlling for socialization problems, differences in levels of anxiety but not self-esteem remained. CONCLUSION: The use of cross-sex hormones prior to seeking treatment is widespread among older trans females and appears to be associated with psychological benefits. Existing barriers to access CHT for older trans people may need to be re-examined.
INTRODUCTION: As referrals to gender identity clinics have increased dramatically over the last few years, no studies focusing on older trans people seeking treatment are available. AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of older trans people attending a national service and to investigate the influence of cross-sex hormones (CHT) on psychopathology. METHODS: Individuals over the age of 50 years old referred to a national gender identity clinic during a 30-month period were invited to complete a battery of questionnaires to measure psychopathology and clinical characteristics. Individuals on cross-sex hormones prior to the assessment were compared with those not on treatment for different variables measuring psychopathology. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sociodemographic and clinical variables and measures of depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), victimization (Experiences of Transphobia Scale), social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support), interpersonal functioning (Inventory of Interpersonal Problems), and nonsuicidal self-injury (Self-Injury Questionnaire). RESULTS: The sex ratio of trans females aged 50 years and older compared to trans males was 23.7:1. Trans males were removed for the analysis due to their small number (n = 3). Participants included 71 trans females over the age of 50, of whom the vast majority were white, employed or retired, and divorced and had children. Trans females on CHT who came out as trans and transitioned at an earlier age were significantly less anxious, reported higher levels of self-esteem, and presented with fewer socialization problems. When controlling for socialization problems, differences in levels of anxiety but not self-esteem remained. CONCLUSION: The use of cross-sex hormones prior to seeking treatment is widespread among older trans females and appears to be associated with psychological benefits. Existing barriers to access CHT for older trans people may need to be re-examined.
Authors: Hillary B Nguyen; Alexis M Chavez; Emily Lipner; Liisa Hantsoo; Sara L Kornfield; Robert D Davies; C Neill Epperson Journal: Curr Psychiatry Rep Date: 2018-10-11 Impact factor: 5.285
Authors: Jon Arcelus; Walter Pierre Bouman; Bethany Alice Jones; Christina Richards; Susana Jimenez-Murcia; Mark D Griffiths Journal: J Behav Addict Date: 2017-02-15 Impact factor: 6.756
Authors: Anna Nobili; Cris Glazebrook; Walter Pierre Bouman; Derek Glidden; Simon Baron-Cohen; Carrie Allison; Paula Smith; Jon Arcelus Journal: J Autism Dev Disord Date: 2018-12
Authors: Guneet K Jasuja; Alexander de Groot; Emily K Quinn; Omid Ameli; Jaclyn M W Hughto; Michael Dunbar; Madeline Deutsch; Carl G Streed; Michael K Paasche-Orlow; Hill L Wolfe; Adam J Rose Journal: Med Care Date: 2020-10 Impact factor: 3.178