title: Hormonal therapy is associated with better self-esteem, mood, and quality of life in transsexuals.
abstract: Few studies have assessed the role of cross-sex hormones on psychological outcomes during the period of hormonal therapy preceding sex reassignment surgery in transsexuals. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between hormonal therapy, self-esteem, depression, quality of life (QoL), and global functioning. This study incorporated a cross-sectional design. The inclusion criteria were diagnosis of gender identity disorder (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision) and inclusion in a standardized sex reassignment procedure. The outcome measures were self-esteem (Social Self-Esteem Inventory), mood (Beck Depression Inventory), QoL (Subjective Quality of Life Analysis), and global functioning (Global Assessment of Functioning). Sixty-seven consecutive individuals agreed to participate. Seventy-three percent received hormonal therapy. Hormonal therapy was an independent factor in greater self-esteem, less severe depression symptoms, and greater "psychological-like" dimensions of QoL. These findings should provide pertinent information for health care providers who consider this period as a crucial part of the global sex reassignment procedure.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Psychiatry, Sainte-Marguerite University Hospital, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France; †EA 3279 Research Unit, University Hospital, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France; ‡Department of Psychiatry, La Colombière University Hospital, Montpellier, France; §Department of Psychiatry, Pasteur University Hospital, Nice, France; and ∥Department of Endocrinology, Timone University Hospital, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gorin-Lazard
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baumstarck
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maquigneau
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Penochet
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pringuey
authors.forename: Frédérique
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Albarel
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Morange
authors.forename: Mireille
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonierbale
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lançon
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Auquier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D063106:Transgender Persons / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones