Time trends in referrals to child and adolescent gender identity services: a study in four Nordic countries and in the UK

Abstract

Purpose: To explore whether the increase observed in referrals to child and adolescent gender identity services (GIDSs) has been similar in four Nordic countries and in the UK.

Materials and methods: Numbers of referrals per year in 2011–2017 were obtained from all GIDS in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and the UK and related to population aged <18.

Results: A similar pattern of increase in referral rates was observed across countries, resulting in comparable population adjusted rates in 2017. In children, male:female birth sex ratio was even; in adolescents, a preponderance of females (birth sex) was observed, particularly in Finland.

Conclusions: The demand for GIDSs has evolved similarly across Nordic countries and the UK. The reasons for the increase are not known but increased awareness of gender identity issues, service availability, destigmatization as well as social and media influences may play a role.

Keywords:

• Gender identity
• time trends
• referral rates
• children and adolescents

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Birte Smidt, MD, Head of Outpatient Clinics, Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen for her assistance in providing the data for Denmark.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Riittakerttu Kaltiala

Riittakerttu Kaltiala, Participated in planning the study and in collecting data from her country, run the analyses and had the main responsibility of interpreting the results and writing and revising the manuscript. All other authors: Participated in planning the study, collected data from her country, participated in interpreting the results and writing and revising the manuscript.