MMPI–2 Characteristics of Transsexuals Requesting Sex Reassignment: Comparison of Patients in Prehormonal and Presurgical Phases

Abstract

To assess psychopathology in transsexuals at different phases of sex reassignment, we administered the Spanish adaptation of the MMPI–2 (Ávila-Espada & Jiménez-Gómez, 1999) to 107 male-to-female and 56 female-to-male transsexuals. Except for the Mf scale, mean T scores from the Clinical scales were within the normal range and did not differ between sexes. Male-to-female transsexuals seeking sex-reassignment hormonal therapy, but not female-to-male patients, scored significantly higher on the Depression, Hysteria, Psychopathic Deviate, Schizophrenia, and Social Introversion scales than patients seeking sex-reassignment surgery. The results show that the majority of patients were free of psychopathology. Transsexuals in the initial phases of sex reassignment may experience more distress than in later phases; however, these results are unlikely to reflect clinically relevant differences.

Notes

^a n = 107.

^b n = 56.

^c Categories collapsed for statistical analysis to obtain expected values for at least 80% of cells greater than or equal to 5.

^a n = 107.

^b n = 56.

^a n = 107.

^b n = 56.

^c Validity criteria according to the test guidelines of the MMPI–2 Spanish manual (Ávila-Espada & Jiménez-Gómez, 1999).

^a Number of patients seeking SRHT: Total (n = 84); MF (n = 38); FM (n = 46).

^b Number of patients seeking SRS: Total (n = 79); MF (n = 69); FM (n = 10).