Comparison of demographics characteristics and personality disorders between individuals with male-to-female and female-to-male gender dysphoria

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MS. in psychology, Faculty of psychology and educational sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

2 Professor, Faculty of psychology and educational sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

3 Associate professor, Faculty of psychology and educational sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

4 Associate professor of psychiatry, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Psychiatric co-morbidities, including personality disorders (PD), are standard among gender dysphoria (GD) subjects. It has been proposed that the prevalence and severity of PD may have differences in male-to-female (MtF) and female-to-male (FtM) individuals. This study evaluated differences in demographics and personality disorders between MtF and FtM GD subjects.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Ibn-e-Sina hospital GD clinic and research center, Mashhad, Iran. Forty subjects, including 20 MtF GD and 20 FtM GD, were enrolled in this study using the non-probability sampling method. Personality traits (PT) and disorders were assessed using Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure (SWAP-200). Data were analyzed by t-test, χ2 and Fischer's exact test, and logistic regression in SPSS software version 16.
Results: School refusal (P=0.025) and unemployment (P=0.001) were more common in MtF than FtM GD subjects. One or more PD was diagnosed in 24 (60%) subjects. Histrionic personality disorder was more prevalent in MtF than FtM GD subjects (P=0.41). FtM GD persons achieve better high function scores (P=0.02). Lower education and adult onset of GD were significantly correlated to personality disorders in GD subjects.
Conclusion: Personality disorders are prevalent in male to female and female to male gender dysphoria subjects, which should be considered in the assessment and treatment planning of gender dysphoria patients. Male to female gender dysphoria may have lower social and psychiatric functions than female to male gender dysphoria subjects.

Keywords

Journal of Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 19, Issue 4
July and August 2017
Pages 449-455

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