Presurgical adjustment in male transsexuals with and without hormonal treatment

The effects on hormonal treatment on the adjustment of adult males requesting sex reassignment surgery were examined in two studies. In study 1, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) profiles of 19 patients who received no hormonal therapy and 22 patients who received 12 or more months of estrogen and medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment were compared. Patients receiving hormonal therapy not only showed significantly less psychopathology, but their scores on MMPI scales indicating neurotic and study 2, using correlational techniques to assess the effects of both hormonal treatment and cross-dressing on psychopathology. Length of hormonal treatment was related to emotional adjustment on four clinical scales of the MMPI. Scores indicating greater adjustment were associated with longer periods of treatment. Length of full-time cross-dressing, on the other hand, was not associated with patients' level of adjustment. These findings have important implications for those involved in personality evaluation of transsexuals and for future research. A more rigorous criteria for psychopathology may be required for those persons already exposed to hormonal therapy. It if further suggested that personality research with presurgical transsexuals include a drug hormone history.