Rorschach characteristics in Gender Identity Disorder (G.I.D.) subjects

1. Rorschach characteristics in Gender Identity Disorder (G.I.D.) subjects M. Molo, M. Gentile, C. Crespi, E. Cappai Ce.R.Ne – Research Centre in Neuroscience Turin – Italy INTRODUCTION Gender Identity Disorder is characterized by two essential features: discomfort and inappropriateness about one’s anatomic sex and the persistent wish to live as a member of the opposite sex Clinicians are divided between the two positions regarding psychological functioning of G.I.D. subjects: the first hypothesizes more psychopathological index scores than the non patient group and suggesting that G.I.D. subjects suffer in other aspects of their personality organization as well. On the other hand there is a theoretical position thinking that G.I.D. is a condition developing independently of other psychopathology. Other psychopathology may be secondary and related to the stress associated with gender reassignment process. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Results of variables relating to cognition and thought (PTI, Popular responses, SCZI, XA%) suggest that difficulties in thinking coherently and logically are more frequent in GID subjects than in the non-patients group. In our opinion these observations do not confirm the existence of severe psychopathology condition but are probably related to unconventional way of thinking (only the 1/3 of the sample shows XA% similar to non-patients group) rather than to a nucleus of psychotic thinking. According to the literature, these difficulties in reacting to a situation in a conventional way, are confirmed by the popular response frequency (Tab.4), which in our sample is very similar to DIG groups of other research. Our sample shows some characteristics in common with patients with depressive disorders (DEPI ≥ 5 and PHR range= 0-8). In our opinion this result is related to social and relational difficulties caused by G.I.D. condition. In fact their stressfull lifestyle is also confirmed, in our study, by AdjD results too. GID subjects show less effectiveness in coping strategies compared to non-patients (CDI score). In fact high Lambda per cent of the sample and results of SumV confirm that introspective characteristics are related to GID condition. Our sample showed a high number of sex contents compared to the non-patients group: in our opinion this result is not a psychopathological sign but is related to worries about physical and anatomical changes related to sex reassignment process. This paper is based on descriptive statistics and does not claim to have reached definitive conclusions. In our opinion, this study confirms the importance of diagnostic research in G.I.D., which is still difficult to carry out today. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Rorschach test was administered according to the procedure of Exner Comprehensive System. The test was administered during the diagnostic process (1st –6th month from the first contact with the service). In addition to the Rorschach Test, the G.I.D. sample was given an entire psychological test battery as part of their psychological intake assessment THE AIM OF THE STUDY Our aim is to investigate the presence, level and nature of possible psychopathological indexes using Rorschach data according to the Rorschach Exner Comprehensive System. RESULTS THE SAMPLE Graph.1 The sample is composed of 15 adult G.I.D. subjects (9 MtF and 6 FtM) under treatment at the “Consultorio di Sessuologia” of Mauriziano Umberto I Hospital and in Ce.R.Ne in Turin for S.R.S. Physical examination ruled out the presence of a physical intersex condition and all subjects were free of substance abuse disorders at the time of the evaluation. Higher number of MtF subjects confirmed by the literature data. Table 2: Results Definitions of the variables PTI: Perceptual-Thinking Index DEPI: Depression Index CDI: Coping Deficit Index SCZI: Schizophrenia Index AdjD: Adjusted Stress Tolerance Index Lambda: Coping style XA%: Perceptual accuracy Sx: Contents FQ: Form Quality *Based on Mormont C., Michel A., Wauthy J. (1995) REFERENCES G.R. Caron, R.P.Archer MMPI and Rorschach characteristics of individuals approved for gender riassignment surgery Assessment,1997, vol.4, number 3, 229-241 L. Cohen, C. De Ruiter, H. Ringelberg, P.T. Cohen Kettenis Psychological functioning of adolescent transsexuals: personality and psychopatology Journal of clinical psychology, Vol.53(2), 1997, 187-196 J. E. Exner A Primer for Rorschach Interpretation, Rorschach WorkshopTM, Asheville, NC, 2000 C. Mormont, A. Michel, J. Wauthy Transsexualism and Connection with Reality: Eorschach Data, in Rorschachiana - Yearbook of the International Rorschach Society , Hogrefe & Huber Publishers, vol 20, pg 172-187, 1995 Y. Smith, L. Cohen, P.T. Cohen Kettenis Postoperative psychological functioning of adolescent transsexual: a Rorschach study Archives of Sexual Behaviour, Vol.31, no.3, 2002, 255-261 S. Tuber, S. Coates, Indeces of psychopatology in the Rorchachs of boys with severe Gender Identity Disorder: a comparison with normal control subjects Journal of Personality Assessment, 1989, 53(1), 100-112 Table 3: Statistics about Popular responses (perception of obvious fact) Table 1. Socio-demographic features of the sample