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Cosker-Rowland R. Integrity and rights to gender-affirming healthcare. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS 2022; 48:832-837. [PMID: 34330797 DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2021-107325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Gender-affirming healthcare (GAH) interventions are medical or surgical interventions that aim to allow trans and non-binary people to better affirm their gender identity. It has been argued that rights to GAH must be grounded in either a right to be cured of or mitigate an illness-gender dysphoria-or in harm prevention, given the high rates of depression and suicide among trans and non-binary people. However, these grounds of a right to GAH conflict with the prevalent view among theorists, institutions and activists that trans and non-binary people do not have a mental illness and that one can be trans and entitled to GAH without being depressed or suicidal. This paper challenges the orthodoxy that a right to GAH must be grounded in either of these ways and instead argues for a right to GAH grounded in a right to live and act with integrity. The standard view, which this paper explains, is that our rights to live and act with integrity ground a right to religious accommodation in many cases such as a right to not be denied social security due to one's refusal to work a job on a holy day. This paper argues that if our rights to live and act with integrity can ground prima facie rights to religious accommodation, our rights to live and act with integrity ground prima facie rights to GAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rach Cosker-Rowland
- School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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2
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Zottola A, Jones L, Pilnick A, Mullany L, Pierre Bouman W, Arcelus J. Identifying coping strategies used by patients at a transgender health clinic through analysis of free-text autobiographical narratives. Health Expect 2021; 24:719-727. [PMID: 33629441 PMCID: PMC8077074 DOI: 10.1111/hex.13222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This paper presents an analysis of 32 narratives written by patients waiting for assessment at a transgender health clinic (THC) in England. Narratives are autobiographical free texts, designed to allow patients to describe in their own words their experiences of their gender identity and/or transition prior to a clinic appointment, as part of the assessment process. OBJECTIVE Narratives were analysed to identify actions prospective patients had taken to manage their (usually lengthy) waiting times, so that these 'coping strategies' could be shared with future patients. DESIGN Corpus linguistic methodology was utilized to identify common patterns across the whole corpus of text-based data, augmented with more detailed sociolinguistic analysis of individual narratives. RESULTS There are broad commonalities in the way the transition experience is described across the corpus in terms of presentation of key experiences and feelings. There are specific descriptions of a number of recurring coping strategies, both positive and negative. CONCLUSION The empowerment value of writing these narratives may be limited; the existence of recurring key features suggests that patients may feel they have to present their experiences in certain ways to be accepted for treatment. However, dissemination of some positive coping strategies may help future clients of THCs to better cope with waiting times, as well as assisting practitioners in THCs in supporting their patients during this wait. PATIENT/PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION The clinic's Service Users' Research Advisory Group contributed to formulating the objective and design of the study. Results were presented at the clinic's annual PPI conference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Zottola
- School of English, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy Jones
- School of English, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Alison Pilnick
- School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Louise Mullany
- School of English, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jon Arcelus
- Nottingham National Centre for Transgender Health, Nottingham, United Kingdom.,Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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Aldridge Z, Patel S, Guo B, Nixon E, Pierre Bouman W, Witcomb GL, Arcelus J. Long‐term effect of gender‐affirming hormone treatment on depression and anxiety symptoms in transgender people: A prospective cohort study. Andrology 2020; 9:1808-1816. [DOI: 10.1111/andr.12884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zoë Aldridge
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Institute of Mental Health University of Nottingham Nottingham UK
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences Loughborough University Loughborough UK
| | - Shireen Patel
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Institute of Mental Health University of Nottingham Nottingham UK
| | - Boliang Guo
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Institute of Mental Health University of Nottingham Nottingham UK
| | - Elena Nixon
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Institute of Mental Health University of Nottingham Nottingham UK
| | - Walter Pierre Bouman
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Institute of Mental Health University of Nottingham Nottingham UK
- Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health Nottingham UK
| | | | - Jon Arcelus
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Institute of Mental Health University of Nottingham Nottingham UK
- Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health Nottingham UK
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Milano W, Ambrosio P, Carizzone F, De Biasio V, Foggia G, Capasso A. Gender Dysphoria, Eating Disorders and Body Image: An Overview. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets 2020; 20:518-524. [DOI: 10.2174/1871530319666191015193120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background::
Gender dysphoria is a clinical condition in which a state of inner suffering,
stress and anxiety is detected when biological sex and a person's gender identity do not coincide.
People who identify themselves as transgender people are more vulnerable and may have higher rates
of dissatisfaction with their bodies which are often associated with a disorderly diet in an attempt to
change the bodily characteristics of the genus of birth and, conversely, to accentuate the characteristics
of the desired sexual identity.
Aim::
The purpose of this work is to examine the association between dissatisfaction with one's own
body and eating and weight disorders in people with gender dysphoria.
Results::
Gender dysphoria and eating disorders are characterized by a serious discomfort to the body
and the body suffers in both conditions. The results of our study suggest that rates of pathological
eating behaviors and symptoms related to a disordered diet are high in patients with gender dysphoria
and that standard screening for these symptoms must be considered in both populations at the time of
evaluation and during the course of the treatment.
Conclusions::
In light of this evidence, clinicians should always investigate issues related to sexuality
and gender identity in patients with eating disorders, to develop more effective prevention measures
and better strategies for therapeutic intervention..
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Milano
- U.O.S.D. Eating Disorder Unit ASL Napoli 2 Nord Napoli, Italy
| | - Paola Ambrosio
- U.O.S.D. Eating Disorder Unit ASL Napoli 2 Nord Napoli, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Anna Capasso
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, (84084) Fisciano (Salerno), Italy
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Lehmann K, Leavey G. Accuracy of psychometric tools in the assessment of personality in adolescents and adults requesting gender-affirming treatments: A systematic review. Eur Psychiatry 2019; 62:60-67. [PMID: 31546228 DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2019.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The assessment and screening for personality disorders in individuals requesting gender affirming treatments may be an important aspect of predicting medical and surgical outcomes for this population, but there is no consensus on how best to do so. AIMS To review the diagnostic accuracy of psychometric tools used for the assessment of personality disorders in those requesting gender affirming treatments. METHOD A systematic review: Prospero CRD42017078783 [1]. RESULTS Many studies have focussed on the assessment of personality disorders in this population, but since 1979, only two have used an index and reference test. CONCLUSION There are no agreed reference standards for this population and psychometric tools continue to be scored on reference data from the cisgender (not transgender) population. We need robust evidence on this issue, as individuals may be denied access to gender affirming treatments based on psychometric tools without established reliability in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Lehmann
- Bamford Centre for Mental Health, Ulster University, Belfast, Ireland.
| | - Gerard Leavey
- Bamford Centre for Mental Health, Ulster University, Belfast, Ireland
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Motmans J, Nieder TO, Bouman WP. Transforming the paradigm of nonbinary transgender health: A field in transition. INT J TRANSGENDERISM 2019; 20:119-125. [PMID: 32999599 PMCID: PMC6830970 DOI: 10.1080/15532739.2019.1640514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joz Motmans
- Center for Sexology and Gender, Ghent University Hospital & Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Timo O Nieder
- Institute for Sex Research, Sexual Medicine and Forensic Psychiatry, Interdisciplinary Transgender Health Care Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Walter Pierre Bouman
- Nottingham Center for Transgender Health & Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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Jones BA, Pierre Bouman W, Haycraft E, Arcelus J. Mental health and quality of life in non-binary transgender adults: a case control study. INT J TRANSGENDERISM 2019; 20:251-262. [PMID: 32999611 PMCID: PMC6830991 DOI: 10.1080/15532739.2019.1630346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Background: The social challenges that non-binary people experience, due in part to social intolerance and the lack of validation of non-binary gender identities, may affect the mental health and quality of life of this population. However, studies that have distinguished between non-binary and binary transgender identities are lacking. Aim: To compare the mental health and quality of life of a community sample of non-binary transgender adults with controls (binary transgender people and cisgender people) matched on sex assigned at birth. Method: A total of 526 participants were included. Ninety-seven were classified as non-binary and were compared with two control groups: 91 people classified as binary and 338 cisgender people. Only transgender people not on gender affirming hormone treatment or who had not undergone gender affirming surgery were included. Participants were invited to complete an online survey that included mental health and quality of life measures. Results: Non-binary people reported significantly better mental health than binary transgender people, but worse than cisgender people. Overall, there were no significant differences in quality of life between non-binary and binary transgender participants assigned male at birth and transgender females, but non-binary assigned males at birth had better scores on the psychological and social domains of quality of life than transgender males. Quality of life was better across all domains in cisgender people than transgender groups. Conclusion: There is an inequality with regard to mental health and quality of life between non-binary (and binary) transgender people and the cisgender population that needs to be addressed. The better mental health scores in non-binary people may reflect lower levels of body dissatisfaction among the non-binary population. Mental health problems and poor quality of life are likely to have social causes and hence legislative measures and broader government-led inclusive directives should be put in place to recognize and to validate non-binary identifying people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany A. Jones
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
- Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health, Nottingham, UK
| | - Walter Pierre Bouman
- Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health, Nottingham, UK
- Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Emma Haycraft
- School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - Jon Arcelus
- Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health, Nottingham, UK
- Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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Metastasio A, Negri A, Martinotti G, Corazza O. Transitioning Bodies. The Case of Self-Prescribing Sexual Hormones in Gender Affirmation in Individuals Attending Psychiatric Services. Brain Sci 2018; 8:E88. [PMID: 29757929 PMCID: PMC5977079 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci8050088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-prescribing of sexual hormones for gender affirmation is a potentially widespread and poorly studied phenomenon that many clinicians are unaware of. The uncontrolled use of hormones poses significant health hazards, which have not been previously reported in the literature. We have collected seven clinical cases in general adult psychiatry settings (both inpatient and outpatients), describing transgender and gender non-conforming individuals' (TGNC) self-prescribing and self-administering hormones bought from the Internet without any medical consultation. Among these cases, two were taking androgens, and the rest were taking oestrogens. The main reason for self-administration of hormones seems to be the lack of access to specialised care due to discrimination and long waiting lists. We advocate for clinicians to be aware of the phenomenon and proactively help TGNC individuals by enquiring about self-prescribing of hormones, providing information and referring to the most appropriate treatment centre as well as encourage a public debate on the discrimination and the stigma that TGNC population suffer from. Overall, there is an urgent need for the implementation of different and innovative health care services for TGNC individuals as well as more targeted prevention strategies on such underreported and highly risky behaviours. Furthermore, it is necessary for every clinician involved in the care for TGNC people to be aware of their special needs and be able to be an allied and an advocate to help in reducing stigma and discrimination that affect the access to care for this often underserved population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Metastasio
- Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London NW1 0PE, UK.
- Centre for Clinical & Health Research Services, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK.
| | - Attilio Negri
- Centre for Clinical & Health Research Services, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK.
| | - Giovanni Martinotti
- Centre for Clinical & Health Research Services, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK.
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Science, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
| | - Ornella Corazza
- Centre for Clinical & Health Research Services, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK.
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Vincent BW. Studying trans: recommendations for ethical recruitment and collaboration with transgender participants in academic research. PSYCHOLOGY & SEXUALITY 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/19419899.2018.1434558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Bouman WP, de Vries ALC, T'Sjoen G. Gender Dysphoria and Gender Incongruence: An evolving inter-disciplinary field. Int Rev Psychiatry 2016; 28:1-4. [PMID: 26769232 DOI: 10.3109/09540261.2016.1125740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Walter Pierre Bouman
- a Nottingham National Centre for Gender Dysphoria , Nottingham , United Kingdom ;
| | - Annelou L C de Vries
- b VU University Medical Center, Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria , Amsterdam , the Netherlands
| | - Guy T'Sjoen
- c Center for Sexology and Gender, Department of Endocrinology , Ghent University , Ghent , Belgium
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Nieder TO, Elaut E, Richards C, Dekker A. Sexual orientation of trans adults is not linked to outcome of transition-related health care, but worth asking. Int Rev Psychiatry 2016; 28:103-11. [PMID: 26754566 DOI: 10.3109/09540261.2015.1102127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Since the beginning of contemporary transition-related care at the outset of the 20th century, sexual orientation has ben considered to be closely connected with gender identity and the developmental trajectories of trans people. Specifically, health professionals have regarded the anticipated post-transitional heterosexual behaviour of trans adults as predictive of a good outcome of cross-sex hormones and gender-confirming surgeries. This article reviews the current literature according to the question of whether the sexual orientation of trans people is linked to outcome measures following transition-related interventions. A comprehensive review was undertaken using the Medline database, searching for empirical studies published between 2010 and 2015. Out of a total of 474 studies, only 10 studies reported a follow-up of trans adults and assessed sexual orientation in the study protocol at all. Sexual orientation was predominantly assessed as homosexual versus non-homosexual related to sex assigned at birth. Only one 1 of 10 follow-up studies found a significant association according to the outcome between groups differentiated by sexual orientation. Empirically there is no link between sexual orientation and outcome of transition-related health care for trans adults. In order to provide comprehensive health care, we recommend asking for sexual behaviours, attractions and identities, as well as for gender experiences and expressions; however, this knowledge should not drive, but simply inform, such comprehensive care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo O Nieder
- a Interdisciplinary Transgender Health Care Centre Hamburg, Department for Sex Research and Forensic Psychiatry , University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) , Germany
| | - Els Elaut
- b Centre for Sexology and Gender, Ghent University Hospital , Belgium
| | - Christina Richards
- c Nottingham Centre for Gender Dysphoria , Nottingham , UK ;,d Charing Cross Gender Identity Clinic , London , UK
| | - Arne Dekker
- a Interdisciplinary Transgender Health Care Centre Hamburg, Department for Sex Research and Forensic Psychiatry , University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) , Germany
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Abstract
Studies investigating the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among trans individuals have identified elevated rates of psychopathology. Research has also provided conflicting psychiatric outcomes following gender-confirming medical interventions. This review identifies 38 cross-sectional and longitudinal studies describing prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders and psychiatric outcomes, pre- and post-gender-confirming medical interventions, for people with gender dysphoria. It indicates that, although the levels of psychopathology and psychiatric disorders in trans people attending services at the time of assessment are higher than in the cis population, they do improve following gender-confirming medical intervention, in many cases reaching normative values. The main Axis I psychiatric disorders were found to be depression and anxiety disorder. Other major psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, were rare and were no more prevalent than in the general population. There was conflicting evidence regarding gender differences: some studies found higher psychopathology in trans women, while others found no differences between gender groups. Although many studies were methodologically weak, and included people at different stages of transition within the same cohort of patients, overall this review indicates that trans people attending transgender health-care services appear to have a higher risk of psychiatric morbidity (that improves following treatment), and thus confirms the vulnerability of this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Dhejne
- a Gender Team, Centre for Andrology and Sexual Medicine and Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience , Karolinska Institute and University Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Roy Van Vlerken
- b Centre of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria, VU University Medical Centre , Amsterdam , Netherlands
| | - Gunter Heylens
- c Centre for Sexology and Gender, University Hospital , Ghent , Belgium
| | - Jon Arcelus
- d Nottingham Centre for Gender Dysphoria , Nottingham , UK ;,e Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology , Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham , Nottingham , UK
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