ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: In the body of available literature, the information on the relationship between the level of gender dysphoria (GD), social transition and mental health and hormone levels is scant.

Methods: The data has been obtained from medical records of 120 transgender and gender non-conforming (TG/GNC) young patients of the pediatric and endocrinological ward of the Upper Silesian Center of Youth’s Health in Katowice, Poland. The information contains scores of our own gender dysphoria scale, socio-demographic data, steroid metabolon/urine and information pertaining to the patients’ mental health.

Results: Depressive disorders were diagnosed in 37.5% of patients, bipolar disorders in 7.5%, anxiety disorders in 26.7%, adjustment disorders in 6.7%, psychotic disorders in 5.0%, conduct/disruptive disorders in 0.8%, substance use disorders in 0.8%, eating disorders in 6.7%, personality disorders in 15.8%, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in 5.0%, autism spectrum disorders in 10.8%, Our analysis has revealed negative associations between GD and levels of α-cortolone and β-cortolone as well as a positive association with length of the period of gender expression adjustment. Onset of gender incongruence has been positively associated with length of the period of gender expression adjustment, onset of gender dysphoria, length of the period after coming out to family and friends, length of the period after social transition, and negatively associated with mental health. The study has revealed that GD is a negative predictor of α-cortolone and β-cortolone. The results of the intergroup differences analysis have shown that young patients who identify as non-binary report significantly higher levels of GD in comparison to those who identify as binary. Young patients who experience GD related to chest and voice are diagnosed with more disorders than those who do not experience GD related to chest and voice.

Conclusions: The results presented in the study indicate that the importance of alleviating GD among TG/GNC youth and facilitating their social transition and coming out as the potential levels of distress might possibly have a significant impact on their mental and somatic health.