Comparison of demographics characteristics and personality disorders between individuals with male-to-female and female-to-male gender dysphoria

Psychiatric co-morbidities including personality disorders (PD) are common among gender dysphoria (GD) subjects. It has been proposed that prevalence and severity of PD may have differences in male-to-female (MtF) and female-to-male (FtM) individuals. This study was conducted to evaluate differences in demographics and personality disorders between MtF and FtM GD subjects.
This cross sectional study was conducted in Ibn-e-Sina hospital GD clinic and research center, Mashhad, Iran. Forty subjects including 20 MtF GD and 20 FtM GD were enrolled in this study using non-probability sampling method. Personality traits (PT) and disorders were assessed using Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure (SWAP-200). Data were analyzed by t-test, χ2 and Fischer's exact test, and logistic regression in SPSS software version 16.
School refusal (P=0.025) and unemployment (P=0.001) were more common in MtF than FtM GD subjects. Totally, one or more PD was diagnosed in 24 (60%) subjects. Histrionic personality disorder was more prevalent in MtF than FtM GD subjects (P=0.41). FtM GD persons achieve better high function scores (P=0.02). Lower education and adult onset of GD were significantly correlated to personality disorders in GD subjects.
Personality disorders are prevalent in both male to female and female to male gender dysphoria subjects, and this should be taken into account in the assessment and treatment planning of gender dysphoria patients. Male to female gender dysphoria may have lower social and psychiatric functions than female to male gender dysphoria subjects.