Mental Healthcare Utilization of Transgender Youth Before and After Affirming Treatment.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2021

Identifier

DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2021.05.014

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) adolescents experience increased mental health risk compared to cisgender peers. Limited research suggests improved outcomes following gender-affirmation. This study examined mental healthcare and psychotropic medication utilization among TGD youth compared to their siblings without gender-related diagnoses and explored utilization patterns following gender-affirming care.

METHOD: This retrospective cohort study used military healthcare data from 2010-2018 to identify mental healthcare diagnoses and visits, and psychotropic medication prescriptions among TGD youth who received care for gender dysphoria before age 18, and their siblings. Logistic and Poisson regression analyses compared mental health diagnosis, visits, and psychotropic prescriptions of TGD youth to their siblings, and compared healthcare utilization pre- and post-initiation of gender-affirming pharmaceuticals among TGD adolescents.

RESULTS: 3,754 TGD adolescents and 6,603 cisgender siblings were included. TGD adolescents were more likely to have a mental health diagnosis (OR 5.45, 95% CI [4.77-6.24]), use more mental healthcare services (IRR 2.22; 95% CI [2.00-2.46]), and be prescribed more psychotropic medications (IRR = 2.57; 95% CI [2.36-2.80]) compared to siblings. The most pronounced increases in mental healthcare were for adjustment, anxiety, mood, personality, psychotic disorders, and suicidal ideation/attempted suicide. The most pronounced increased in psychotropic medication were in SNRIs, sleep medications, anti-psychotics and lithium. Among 963 TGD youth (M

CONCLUSION: Results support clinical mental health screening recommendations for TGD youth. Further research is needed to elucidate the longer-term impact of medical affirmation on mental health, including family and social factors associated with the persistence and discontinuation of mental healthcare needs among TGD youth. Hisle-Gorman E, Schvey NA, Adirim TA, et al. Mental Healthcare Utilization of Transgender Youth Before and After Affirming Treatment. J Sex Med 2021;18:1444-1454.

Journal Title

J Sex Med

Volume

18

Issue

8

First Page

1444

Last Page

1454

MeSH Keywords

Adolescent; Aged; Gender Dysphoria; Humans; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Retrospective Studies; Transgender Persons; Transsexualism

Keywords

Adolescent; Gender-Diverse; Mental Health; Transgender; Youth

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