Observations of the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog treatment on psychosocial well-being in transgender youth and their caregivers - a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES

We investigated indices of mental health in transgender youth and their primary caregiver during 12 months of GnRHa therapy.

METHODS

Psychological measures were completed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months by patients and caregivers using validated questionnaires from the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System and National Institutes of Health Toolbox. One-way repeated-measures ANOVAs were performed to evaluate differences in psychological measures across time. One-sample t-tests compared the sample mean of each measure to the population mean at each time point.

RESULTS

Of 28 patients enrolled, 16 were treated with a GnRHa alone for 12 months. No significant main effect of time on any measure of psychological functioning in patients or caregivers was found (all ps>0.05). Compared to the general population, transgender youth reported higher levels of psychological stress and lower levels of life satisfaction at all time points, and higher levels of depression and anger at later time points, while caregivers perceived decreased well-being in their child on all measures at all time points. Caregivers reported higher levels of self-reported anxiety at all time points and higher levels of self-reported depression at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

Transgender youth and their caregivers in the early stages of medical transition experience more challenges related to psychological well-being compared to the general population. However, all measures of psychological well-being remained stable throughout the study.