Clinical Characteristics, Psychiatric Comorbidities and Sociodemographic Profile of Transsexual Patients from an Outpatient Clinic in Brazil

ABSTRACT

Objective: To provide a description of our transsexual population.

Method: This descriptive observational study included 138 patients with a diagnosis of Trans-sexualism in Brazil, between March 1998 and September 2005. Demographic, clinical and psychiatry data were collected.

Results: Age ranged from 16 to 54 years; 88.4% were male. The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases was 19.5%, and 17.6% were HIV-positive. Hormone therapy was reported by 91.2%, and 47.4% referred drug and alcohol use; 14.2%, attempted suicide; and 12.5%, history of sexual abuse. Self-mutilation was reported by 5.2%s. Fifty-nine patients (42.7%) had at least one currently psychiatric comorbidity (axis I or II).

Conclusions: Mental health professionals have a central role in coordinating the multidisciplinary care of transsexuals.

KEYWORDS:

• Transsexualism
• sexual and gender disorders
• psychiatric comorbidity
• mental health
• multidisciplinary care