Psychosocial profile of cases of gender dysphoria attending a tertiary care hospital in Delhi

Abstract

AbstractThere is a dearth of scientific data from India on gender dysphoria (GD), and only few published research articles, mainly in the form of case reports or case series, are present. The aim of this work is to study the socio‐demographic profile, parental/family support, comorbid psychiatric illness, and other characteristics (cross‐dressing, sexual orientation, pattern of referral) related to GD. It was a descriptive case study of 20 cases of GD (diagnosed as per DSM‐5) registered from May 2012 to February 2019 at the psychiatry Out Patient Department (OPD) of a tertiary care multispecialty teaching hospital in New Delhi. The subject's socio‐clinical profile was assessed. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out in this study. Out of the total 20 cases (n = 20), 12 cases (60%) were transgender women, rest (40%) were transgender men, with a male:female sex ratio of 3:2. The mean age of sample was 23.5 ± 6.43 years, age range being 15–41 years. In majority of cases (60%), the age of realization of their problem was in early or middle childhood. Parents of 11 cases (55%) were against the gender affirming treatments and procedures. Cross‐dressing in routine and public life was present in 12 (60%) cases; 20% of the cases had comorbid psychiatric illness. Individuals with this condition are coming forward, seeking help which shows that the awareness about availability of treatment facility especially in the government sector is increasing.