Table 2.
Mental health diagnoses and traumatic experiences prior to the onset of gender dysphoria
| Natal female N (%) N = 69 |
Natal male N (%) N = 31 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosed with a mental illness or neurodevelopmental disability*a | ||
| Depression | 27 (39.1%) | 5 (16.1%) |
| Anxiety | 22 (31.9%) | 5 (16.1%) |
| Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) | 10 (14.5%) | 2 (6.5%) |
| Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | 10 (14.5%) | 1 (3.2%) |
| Eating disorders | 10 (14.5%) | 0 (0%) |
| Autism spectrum disorders | 9 (13.0%) | 1 (3.2%) |
| Bipolar disorder | 9 (13.0%) | 0 (0%) |
| Obsessive compulsive disorder | 6 (8.7%) | 3 (9.7%) |
| Borderline personality disorder | 5 (7.2%) | 0 (0%) |
| Schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders | 1 (1.4%) | 0 (0%) |
| None of the above | 28 (40.6%) | 17 (54.8%) |
| Other | 7 (10.1%) | 2 (6.5%) |
| Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI)b | ||
| Engaged in NSSI before the onset of gender dysphoria | 19 (27.5%) | 5 (16.1%) |
| Traumac | ||
| Experienced a trauma less than one year before the start of gender dysphoria | 33 (47.8%) | 4 (12.9%) |
*May select more than one answer
aNatal sex difference for one or more pre-existing diagnoses (100-none of the above) was not significant [χ2(1, 100) = 1.76]
bNatal sex differences for NSSI before the onset of gender dysphoria was not significant (χ2 = 1.52)
cExperiencing a trauma less than one year before the start of gender dysphoria was statistically different [χ2(1, 100) = 11.19, p < .001] with natal females > natal males