[Sexual identity disorders: clinical and sociologic data from 77 patients].

It is only in the past few years that transsexualism has been deeply investigated systematically. In fact in our Country there is a lack of data on both the incidence of transsexualism and on the behaviour of transsexuals. In this paper we present our experience on this topic. In our Center we observed from 1983 till April 1989, 77 patients (68 M and 9 F). All the patients were investigated from endocrinologic, psychologic and psychiatric points of view. The following data were also collected: distribution of sex and age, people who sent the patients, place of birth, residence, family, social and cultural environments. The results of these investigations were: male patients demonstrated a strong reliance with the clan. A wide distribution of age, from 14 to 58 years, is represented. About half of the patients said to have experienced a break of familiar environment. A low cultural level was prevalent among males, whereas females demonstrated good erudition. Many patients resorted to prostitution to confirm their identity and many patients took hormone therapy to develop the physical characteristics of their desired sex.