Ten aging gender dysphoria patients (eight men
and two women, average age 52 years) were the subjects of this study. All
had presented to the Gender Identity Clinic at Case Western Reserve
University requesting sex-reassignment surgery.
A psychiatric-psychological profile of the
patients, their sexual functioning, problems with aging, diagnostic issues,
and follow-up are discussed. The aging gender dysphoric patient presents in
acute crisis, that is, exhibiting marked depression, increased suicidal
ideation and behavior, and urgent perception of time.
Diagnostic and treatment recommendations
for aging gender dysphoria patients and their depressions are provided.
Furthermore, guidelines are suggested for differentiating the aging
transvestite with transsexual symptoms and the aging transsexual for whom
sex-reassignment surgery may be indicated.
Specific treatment strategies for an aging
population, including sexual surgery, are also discussed.
Citation:
Arch Sex Behav 1979 Sep;8(5):431-44 an article published on the Internet by
PubMed <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/>
