title: A follow-up study of girls with gender identity disorder.
abstract: This study provided information on the natural histories of 25 girls with gender identity disorder (GID). Standardized assessment data in childhood (mean age, 8.88 years; range, 3-12 years) and at follow-up (mean age, 23.24 years; range, 15-36 years) were used to evaluate gender identity and sexual orientation. At the assessment in childhood, 60% of the girls met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria for GID, and 40% were subthreshold for the diagnosis. At follow-up, 3 participants (12%) were judged to have GID or gender dysphoria. Regarding sexual orientation, 8 participants (32%) were classified as bisexual/homosexual in fantasy, and 6 (24%) were classified as bisexual/homosexual in behavior. The remaining participants were classified as either heterosexual or asexual. The rates of GID persistence and bisexual/homosexual sexual orientation were substantially higher than base rates in the general female population derived from epidemiological or survey studies. There was some evidence of a "dosage" effect, with girls who were more cross-sex typed in their childhood behavior more likely to be gender dysphoric at follow-up and more likely to have been classified as bisexual/homosexual in behavior (but not in fantasy).
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Applied Psychology, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto.
authors.forename: Kelley D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Drummond
authors.affiliation: Gender Identity Service, Child, Youth, and Family Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Applied Psychology, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peterson-Badali
authors.affiliation: Gender Identity Service, Child, Youth, and Family Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Zucker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005201:Fantasy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005783:Gender Identity; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011606:Psychosexual Development; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014888:Wechsler Scales