• Login
• Admin

Aldridge, Zoë, Patel, Shireen, Guo, Boliang, Nixon, Elena, Pierre Bouman, Walter, Witcomb, Gemma L. and Arcelus, Jon (2020) Long term effect of gender affirming hormone treatment on depression and anxiety symptoms in transgender people: A prospective cohort study. Andrology . ISSN 2047-2919

Preview

PDF - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader Available under Licence Creative Commons Attribution. Download (247kB) | Preview

Abstract

Background

Cross‐sectional studies show that transgender people are more likely than cisgender people to experience depression and anxiety before Gender Affirming Hormone Treatment (GAHT). However, the effect of GAHT on mental health in transgender people, and the role of other factors that may have a predictive effect, is poorly explored.

Objectives

Using a longitudinal methodology, this study investigated the effect of 18 months GAHT on depression and anxiety symptomatology and the predictors on mental health outcomes in a large population of transgender people.

Materials and Methods

Participants (n=178) completed a socio‐demographic questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Autism Spectrum Quotient Short Version (AQ‐short) at pre‐assessment (T0) and at 18 months after initiation of GAHT (T1).

Results

From T0 to T1, symptomatology was significantly decreased for depression (P <0.001) and non‐significantly reduced for anxiety (P=0.37). Scores on the MSPSS predicted reduction in depression, while scores on the AQ‐short predicted reduction in anxiety.

Discussion

GAHT reduces symptoms of depression which are predicted by having higher levels of social support. Although anxiety symptoms also reduce the changes are not significant and high levels of anxiety still remain post GAHT.

Conclusions

These results highlight the important mental health benefits of GAHT. Support services (professional, third sector or peer‐support) aiming at increasing social support for transgender individuals should be made available.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Hormone therapy, Transgender, Longitudinal, Mental health, Social support, Autism
Schools/Departments:	University of Nottingham, Malaysia > Faculty of Science and Engineering — Science > School of Psychology
Identification Number:	10.1111/andr.12884
Depositing User:	Williams, Nicholas
Date Deposited:	12 Aug 2020 08:24
Last Modified:	12 Sep 2025 09:03
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/61355

Actions (Archive Staff Only)

Edit View