Transgender patients’ satisfaction with their mental health providers prior to gender affirming surgery

Abstract

Purpose

Given the World Professional Association for Transgender Health guidelines requiring patients to present letters from mental health professionals prior to gender affirming surgery (GAS), this study was designed to evaluate patient satisfaction with their mental health provider prior to GAS.

Methods

Transgender patients seeking GAS completed three validated questionnaires to evaluate satisfaction with mental health provider (MHP), severity of depression (PHQ-9), and emotional distress (Emotional Thermometer). Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate patient satisfaction with MHP and its association with the length of relationship with MHP, PHQ-9 score, and Emotional Thermometer score. Statistical significance was established for p-values <0.05.

Results

Ninety-seven patients (TGW 52; TGM 45) completed the survey. Patients were highly satisfied with their MHP (mean PatSat score 70.68), and this did not differ based upon the length of relationship (p = 0.72). Lower emotional distress was associated with higher patient satisfaction with provider increased (r = −0.255, p = 0.017).

Conclusion

In our study, patients demonstrated satisfaction with their MHP prior to GAS, regardless of the length of this relationship. This finding supports current WPATH SOC recommendations and may provide reassurance to those who perceive these guidelines to be barriers to GAS for transgender patients.

Keywords:

• Gender dysphoria
• gender transition
• mental health
• transgender
• transitioning

Acknowledgments

All contributors to this project have been listed as authors.

Disclosure statement

No competing financial interests exists.

Disclaimer

The data within this manuscript were previously presented at the National Transgender Health Summit, Oakland, CA, USA in April 12–14, 2019.

Funding information

No funding was utilized for this study.

Ethics Statement

Institutional review board approval was obtained from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. All processes involving human participants were in accordance with ethical standards of the institutional research committee. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants involved in the study.