ABSTRACT
Conclusion:
In this study, the number of girls diagnosed with gender dysphoria was found to be less than boys. This finding does not seem to be in line with the higher frequency of gender dysphoria in girls that has been generally demonstrated in the past in population-based studies. Sociocultural factors in our society are influential in the tendency to apply to the clinic. It has been shown that roughly half of cases with gender dysphoria have comorbidity. In addition to the timely diagnosis and succesful treatment of these comorbidities; informing families adequately is essential in terms of the general course of the cases. Considering that follow-up is not continued in approximately two-thirds of the children diagnosed with gender dysphoria and that there is a significant relationship between comorbidity, trait anxiety scale scores, father’s education level and follow-up; it may be important to consider sociocultural factors as well as biological factors such as comorbidity and anxiety levels. Partnership of families, schools and the social community may contribute to treatment compliance of those cases.
Results:
Fifteen (30.6%) of the cases were female and 34 (69.4%) were male. The mean age of the sample was found to be 10.4 (4.6) years. In 51.1% of the cases, a comorbid psychiatric diagnosis was found in addition to gender dysphoria. Of the 49 cases, only 19 cases came for two or more interviews. There was a statistically significant relationship between continuing follow-up and the presence of comorbidity (p=0.03). At the same time, there was a statistically significant relationship between father’s education level and follow-up (p=0.013). There was a statistically significant relationship between only the trait anxiety scale score and continuing to follow-up, the trait anxiety scores of those who continued to follow-up were higher (p=0.006).
Materials and Methods:
The hospital files of all cases who applied to the Child Psychiatry Department of Mersin University Hospital between 2002 and 2014 were retrospectively reviewed, and the files of 49 cases diagnosed with gender dysphoria were analyzed. Sociodemographic data, clinical characteristics and scale scores of the cases were entered into the SPPS 16.0 program. Frequency analyzes and descriptive analyzes of the data were performed.
Objectives:
In this article, it was aimed to retrospectively examine the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of cases with gender dysphoria who applied to the department of child psychiatry within a 12-year period.
Keywords:
Gender dysphoria, child, adolescent
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