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Peggy T Cohenkettenis - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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poor peer relations predict parent and self reported behavioral and emotional problems of adolescents with gender Dysphoria a cross national cross clinic comparative analysis
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2016Co-Authors: Annelou L C De Vries, Peggy T Cohenkettenis, Thomas D Steensma, Doug P Vanderlaan, Kenneth J ZuckerAbstract:This study is the third in a series to examine behavioral and emotional problems in children and adolescents with gender Dysphoria in a comparative analysis between two clinics in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In the present study, we report Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Youth Self-Report (YSR) data on adolescents assessed in the Toronto clinic (n = 177) and the Amsterdam clinic (n = 139). On the CBCL and the YSR, we found that the percentage of adolescents with clinical range behavioral and emotional problems was higher when compared to the non-referred standardization samples but similar to the referred adolescents. On both the CBCL and the YSR, the Toronto adolescents had a significantly higher Total Problem score than the Amsterdam adolescents. Like our earlier studies of CBCL data of children and Teacher’s Report Form data of children and adolescents, a measure of poor peer relations was the strongest predictor of CBCL and YSR behavioral and emotional problems in gender dysphoric adolescents.
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clinical management of gender Dysphoria in children and adolescents the dutch approach
Journal of Homosexuality, 2012Co-Authors: Annelou L C De Vries, Peggy T CohenkettenisAbstract:The Dutch approach on clinical management of both prepubertal children under the age of 12 and adolescents starting at age 12 with gender Dysphoria, starts with a thorough assessment of any vulnerable aspects of the youth's functioning or circumstances and, when necessary, appropriate intervention. In children with gender Dysphoria only, the general recommendation is watchful waiting and carefully observing how gender Dysphoria develops in the first stages of puberty. Gender dysphoric adolescents can be considered eligible for puberty suppression and subsequent cross-sex hormones when they reach the age of 16 years. Currently, withholding physical medical interventions in these cases seems more harmful to wellbeing in both adolescence and adulthood when compared to cases where physical medical interventions were provided.
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treatment of adolescents with gender Dysphoria in the netherlands
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 2011Co-Authors: Peggy T Cohenkettenis, Thomas D Steensma, Annelou L C De VriesAbstract:In the Netherlands, gender dysphoric adolescents may be eligible for puberty suppression at age 12, subsequent cross-sex hormone treatment at age 16, and gender reassignment surgery at age 18. Initially, a thorough assessment is made of the gender Dysphoria and vulnerabilities in functioning or circumstances. Psychological interventions and/or gender reassignment may be offered. Psychological interventions are offered if the adolescent needs to explore gender identity and treatment wishes, suffers from coexisting problems, or needs support and counseling during gender reassignment. Although more studies are necessary, this approach seems to contribute significantly to the well-being of gender dysphoric adolescents.
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puberty suppression in adolescents with gender identity disorder a prospective follow up study
The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2011Co-Authors: Annelou L C De Vries, Thomas D Steensma, Theo A H Doreleijers, Peggy T CohenkettenisAbstract:ABSTRACT Introduction Puberty suppression by means of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) is used for young transsexuals between 12 and 16 years of age. The purpose of this intervention is to relieve the suffering caused by the development of secondary sex characteristics and to provide time to make a balanced decision regarding actual gender reassignment. Aim To compare psychological functioning and gender Dysphoria before and after puberty suppression in gender dysphoric adolescents. Methods Of the first 70 eligible candidates who received puberty suppression between 2000 and 2008, psychological functioning and gender Dysphoria were assessed twice: at T0, when attending the gender identity clinic, before the start of GnRHa; and at T1, shortly before the start of cross‐sex hormone treatment. Main Outcome Measures Behavioral and emotional problems (Child Behavior Checklist and the Youth‐Self Report), depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory), anxiety and anger (the Spielberger Trait Anxiety and Anger Scales), general functioning (the clinician's rated Children's Global Assessment Scale), gender Dysphoria (the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale), and body satisfaction (the Body Image Scale) were assessed. Results Behavioral and emotional problems and depressive symptoms decreased, while general functioning improved significantly during puberty suppression. Feelings of anxiety and anger did not change between T0 and T1. While changes over time were equal for both sexes, compared with natal males, natal females were older when they started puberty suppression and showed more problem behavior at both T0 and T1. Gender Dysphoria and body satisfaction did not change between T0 and T1. No adolescent withdrew from puberty suppression, and all started cross‐sex hormone treatment, the first step of actual gender reassignment. Conclusion Puberty suppression may be considered a valuable contribution in the clinical management of gender Dysphoria in adolescents. de Vries ALC, Steensma TD, Doreleijers TAH, and Cohen‐Kettenis PT. Puberty suppression in adolescents with gender identity disorder: A prospective follow‐up study. J Sex Med 2011;8:2276–2283.
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puberty suppression in adolescents with gender identity disorder a prospective follow up study
The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2011Co-Authors: Annelou L C De Vries, Thomas D Steensma, Theo A H Doreleijers, Peggy T CohenkettenisAbstract:INTRODUCTION: Puberty suppression by means of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) is used for young transsexuals between 12 and 16 years of age. The purpose of this intervention is to relieve the suffering caused by the development of secondary sex characteristics and to provide time to make a balanced decision regarding actual gender reassignment. AIM: To compare psychological functioning and gender Dysphoria before and after puberty suppression in gender dysphoric adolescents. METHODS: Of the first 70 eligible candidates who received puberty suppression between 2000 and 2008, psychological functioning and gender Dysphoria were assessed twice: at T0, when attending the gender identity clinic, before the start of GnRHa; and at T1, shortly before the start of cross-sex hormone treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Behavioral and emotional problems (Child Behavior Checklist and the Youth-Self Report), depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory), anxiety and anger (the Spielberger Trait Anxiety and Anger Scales), general functioning (the clinician's rated Children's Global Assessment Scale), gender Dysphoria (the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale), and body satisfaction (the Body Image Scale) were assessed. RESULTS: Behavioral and emotional problems and depressive symptoms decreased, while general functioning improved significantly during puberty suppression. Feelings of anxiety and anger did not change between T0 and T1. While changes over time were equal for both sexes, compared with natal males, natal females were older when they started puberty suppression and showed more problem behavior at both T0 and T1. Gender Dysphoria and body satisfaction did not change between T0 and T1. No adolescent withdrew from puberty suppression, and all started cross-sex hormone treatment, the first step of actual gender reassignment. CONCLUSION: Puberty suppression may be considered a valuable contribution in the clinical management of gender Dysphoria in adolescents.
Ernst H. W. Koster - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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improving attention control in Dysphoria through cognitive training transfer effects on working memory capacity and filtering efficiency
Psychophysiology, 2013Co-Authors: Max Owens, Ernst H. W. Koster, Nazanin DerakshanAbstract:Impaired filtering of irrelevant information from working memory is thought to underlie reduced working memory capacity for relevant information in Dysphoria. The current study investigated whether training-related gains in working memory performance on the adaptive dual n-back task could result in improved inhibitory function. Efficacy of training was monitored in a change detection paradigm allowing measurement of a sustained event-related potential asymmetry sensitive to working memory capacity and the efficient filtering of irrelevant information. Dysphoric participants in the training group showed training-related gains in working memory that were accompanied by gains in working memory capacity and filtering efficiency compared to an active control group. Results provide important initial evidence that behavioral performance and neural function in Dysphoria can be improved by facilitating greater attentional control.
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cascading effects of attention bias on information processing in Dysphoria a path analysis approach to examine the combined cognitive bias hypothesis
42nd Annual Congress of the European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies Abstracts, 2012Co-Authors: Jonas Everaert, Ernst H. W. Koster, Wouter DuyckAbstract:Introduction. Guided by cognitive models of depression, research has yielded substantial empirical data demonstrating emotional biases in attention, interpretation, and memory in depression. Although the past years have seen an accumulative number of studies examining the coherence among cognitive biases, scientific understanding of how these biased cognitive processes are interlinked remains limited in depressed samples. Objectives and Methodology. This study investigated the interplay between attention, interpretation, and memory biases in Dysphoria. The sample consisted of 19 dysphoric and 37 non-dysphoric undergraduate students. Participants completed a computerized version of the scrambled sentences test while their eye movements were recorded. A subsequent incidental free recall task assessed memory for the unscrambled sentences. Results. Dysphoric individuals exhibited negative biases in attention (total fixation durations on negative vs. positive words within a scrambled sentence), interpretation (percentage of emotional sentences unscrambled negatively) and memory (percentage of emotional sentences recalled negatively). Significant positive correlations between all bias indices emerged. Path analyses tested models including and excluding mutual relations among biases in a theory-driven manner. An acceptable fit was found only for a model including interrelations. Parameter estimates indicated that Dysphoria group status predicted attention (p=.07) and interpretation biases (p<.001). Attention biases predicted interpretation biases (p=.05) which in turn predicted memory biases (p<.001). Discussion and Conclusion. The observed correlations among bias indices provide support for the broader construct of information-processing bias. Consistent with predictions by cognitive accounts, results suggest that biases rather operate in concert than in isolation and provide preliminary support for a cascading effect of attention bias on interpretation and memory biases.
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mood congruent attention and memory bias in Dysphoria exploring the coherence among information processing biases
Behaviour Research and Therapy, 2010Co-Authors: Ernst H. W. Koster, Rudi De Raedt, Lemke Leyman, Evi De LissnyderAbstract:Recent studies indicate that depression is characterized by mood-congruent attention bias at later stages of information-processing. Moreover, depression has been associated with enhanced recall of negative information. The present study tested the coherence between attention and memory bias in Dysphoria. Stable dysphoric (n = 41) and non-dysphoric (n = 41) undergraduates first performed a spatial cueing task that included negative, positive, and neutral words. Words were presented for 250 ms under conditions that allowed or prevented elaborate processing. Memory for the words presented in the cueing task was tested using incidental free recall. Dysphoric individuals exhibited an attention bias for negative words in the condition that allowed elaborate processing, with the attention bias for negative words predicting free recall of negative words. Results demonstrate the coherence of attention and memory bias in dysphoric individuals and provide suggestions on the influence of attention bias on further processing of negative material.
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attentional control in Dysphoria an investigation using the antisaccade task
Biological Psychology, 2009Co-Authors: Nazanin Derakshan, Maureen Salt, Ernst H. W. KosterAbstract:We examined inhibitory mechanisms in Dysphoria using direct measures of attentional control. Dysphoric and non-dysphoric participants performed standard and delayed versions of the antisaccade and prosaccade tasks with facial expressions as stimuli. Results showed higher error rates in the standard antisaccade task than in the delayed tasks, with the dysphoric group having higher error rates in response to emotional facial expressions, in particular happy expressions. Our findings indicate impaired attentional processing in response to emotional facial expressions, in particular happy expressions, in Dysphoria. Implications for understanding the mechanisms underlying attentional control in Dysphoria are discussed.
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mood congruent attentional bias in Dysphoria maintained attention to and impaired disengagement from negative information
Emotion, 2005Co-Authors: Ernst H. W. Koster, Rudi De Raedt, Ellen Goeleven, Erik Franck, Geert CrombezAbstract:Attentional bias to negative information has been proposed to be a cognitive vulnerability factor for the development of depression. In 2 experiments, the authors examined mood-congruent attentional bias in Dysphoria. In both experiments, dysphoric and nondysphoric participants performed an attentional task with negative, positive, and neutral word cues preceding a target. Targets appeared either at the same or at the opposite location of the cue. Overall, results indicate that dysphoric participants show maintained attention for negative words at longer stimulus presentations, which is probably caused by impaired attentional disengagement from negative words. Furthermore, nondysphoric participants maintain their attention more strongly to positive words. These results are discussed in relation to recent developments in the pathogenesis and treatment of depression. A key interest in the study of depression is the interplay between negative mood state and information processing. In this domain, the mood-congruency hypothesis is of central importance. Accord- ing to this hypothesis, positive moods should facilitate information processing of positive information, and negative moods should facilitate information processing of negative information (Bower, 1981). In line with the mood-congruency account, cognitive ac- counts of depression and depression risk have developed the idea that both depressed and dysphoric individuals have negative self- schemata that profoundly affect memory, reasoning, and attention (Beck, 1967; D. A. Clark, Beck, & Alford, 1999; Ingram, 1984). Indeed, considerable research supports the idea that depression and Dysphoria are characterized by memory and reasoning biases (for a review, see Williams, Watts, MacLeod, & Mathews, 1997). However, it is yet unclear whether a mood-congruent attentional bias for negative information is present. The aim of the present article was, then, to further investigate and identify the attentional characteristics in dysphoric versus nondysphoric individuals by using the emotional modification of the exogenous cuing task (Posner, 1980). Previous research investigating attentional biases toward nega- tive information have not systematically been able to demonstrate that Dysphoria and depression are characterized by attentional bias (e.g., Gotlib, McLachlan, & Katz, 1988; MacLeod, Mathews, & Tata, 1986; Mogg, Bradley, Williams, & Mathews, 1993). A reason may be the use of short stimulus presentations that are similar to those used in anxiety and phobia research. It is possible that the human fear system is tuned for rapid detection of and swift
Annelou L C De Vries - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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poor peer relations predict parent and self reported behavioral and emotional problems of adolescents with gender Dysphoria a cross national cross clinic comparative analysis
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2016Co-Authors: Annelou L C De Vries, Peggy T Cohenkettenis, Thomas D Steensma, Doug P Vanderlaan, Kenneth J ZuckerAbstract:This study is the third in a series to examine behavioral and emotional problems in children and adolescents with gender Dysphoria in a comparative analysis between two clinics in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In the present study, we report Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Youth Self-Report (YSR) data on adolescents assessed in the Toronto clinic (n = 177) and the Amsterdam clinic (n = 139). On the CBCL and the YSR, we found that the percentage of adolescents with clinical range behavioral and emotional problems was higher when compared to the non-referred standardization samples but similar to the referred adolescents. On both the CBCL and the YSR, the Toronto adolescents had a significantly higher Total Problem score than the Amsterdam adolescents. Like our earlier studies of CBCL data of children and Teacher’s Report Form data of children and adolescents, a measure of poor peer relations was the strongest predictor of CBCL and YSR behavioral and emotional problems in gender dysphoric adolescents.
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clinical management of gender Dysphoria in children and adolescents the dutch approach
Journal of Homosexuality, 2012Co-Authors: Annelou L C De Vries, Peggy T CohenkettenisAbstract:The Dutch approach on clinical management of both prepubertal children under the age of 12 and adolescents starting at age 12 with gender Dysphoria, starts with a thorough assessment of any vulnerable aspects of the youth's functioning or circumstances and, when necessary, appropriate intervention. In children with gender Dysphoria only, the general recommendation is watchful waiting and carefully observing how gender Dysphoria develops in the first stages of puberty. Gender dysphoric adolescents can be considered eligible for puberty suppression and subsequent cross-sex hormones when they reach the age of 16 years. Currently, withholding physical medical interventions in these cases seems more harmful to wellbeing in both adolescence and adulthood when compared to cases where physical medical interventions were provided.
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treatment of adolescents with gender Dysphoria in the netherlands
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 2011Co-Authors: Peggy T Cohenkettenis, Thomas D Steensma, Annelou L C De VriesAbstract:In the Netherlands, gender dysphoric adolescents may be eligible for puberty suppression at age 12, subsequent cross-sex hormone treatment at age 16, and gender reassignment surgery at age 18. Initially, a thorough assessment is made of the gender Dysphoria and vulnerabilities in functioning or circumstances. Psychological interventions and/or gender reassignment may be offered. Psychological interventions are offered if the adolescent needs to explore gender identity and treatment wishes, suffers from coexisting problems, or needs support and counseling during gender reassignment. Although more studies are necessary, this approach seems to contribute significantly to the well-being of gender dysphoric adolescents.
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puberty suppression in adolescents with gender identity disorder a prospective follow up study
The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2011Co-Authors: Annelou L C De Vries, Thomas D Steensma, Theo A H Doreleijers, Peggy T CohenkettenisAbstract:ABSTRACT Introduction Puberty suppression by means of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) is used for young transsexuals between 12 and 16 years of age. The purpose of this intervention is to relieve the suffering caused by the development of secondary sex characteristics and to provide time to make a balanced decision regarding actual gender reassignment. Aim To compare psychological functioning and gender Dysphoria before and after puberty suppression in gender dysphoric adolescents. Methods Of the first 70 eligible candidates who received puberty suppression between 2000 and 2008, psychological functioning and gender Dysphoria were assessed twice: at T0, when attending the gender identity clinic, before the start of GnRHa; and at T1, shortly before the start of cross‐sex hormone treatment. Main Outcome Measures Behavioral and emotional problems (Child Behavior Checklist and the Youth‐Self Report), depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory), anxiety and anger (the Spielberger Trait Anxiety and Anger Scales), general functioning (the clinician's rated Children's Global Assessment Scale), gender Dysphoria (the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale), and body satisfaction (the Body Image Scale) were assessed. Results Behavioral and emotional problems and depressive symptoms decreased, while general functioning improved significantly during puberty suppression. Feelings of anxiety and anger did not change between T0 and T1. While changes over time were equal for both sexes, compared with natal males, natal females were older when they started puberty suppression and showed more problem behavior at both T0 and T1. Gender Dysphoria and body satisfaction did not change between T0 and T1. No adolescent withdrew from puberty suppression, and all started cross‐sex hormone treatment, the first step of actual gender reassignment. Conclusion Puberty suppression may be considered a valuable contribution in the clinical management of gender Dysphoria in adolescents. de Vries ALC, Steensma TD, Doreleijers TAH, and Cohen‐Kettenis PT. Puberty suppression in adolescents with gender identity disorder: A prospective follow‐up study. J Sex Med 2011;8:2276–2283.
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puberty suppression in adolescents with gender identity disorder a prospective follow up study
The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2011Co-Authors: Annelou L C De Vries, Thomas D Steensma, Theo A H Doreleijers, Peggy T CohenkettenisAbstract:INTRODUCTION: Puberty suppression by means of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) is used for young transsexuals between 12 and 16 years of age. The purpose of this intervention is to relieve the suffering caused by the development of secondary sex characteristics and to provide time to make a balanced decision regarding actual gender reassignment. AIM: To compare psychological functioning and gender Dysphoria before and after puberty suppression in gender dysphoric adolescents. METHODS: Of the first 70 eligible candidates who received puberty suppression between 2000 and 2008, psychological functioning and gender Dysphoria were assessed twice: at T0, when attending the gender identity clinic, before the start of GnRHa; and at T1, shortly before the start of cross-sex hormone treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Behavioral and emotional problems (Child Behavior Checklist and the Youth-Self Report), depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory), anxiety and anger (the Spielberger Trait Anxiety and Anger Scales), general functioning (the clinician's rated Children's Global Assessment Scale), gender Dysphoria (the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale), and body satisfaction (the Body Image Scale) were assessed. RESULTS: Behavioral and emotional problems and depressive symptoms decreased, while general functioning improved significantly during puberty suppression. Feelings of anxiety and anger did not change between T0 and T1. While changes over time were equal for both sexes, compared with natal males, natal females were older when they started puberty suppression and showed more problem behavior at both T0 and T1. Gender Dysphoria and body satisfaction did not change between T0 and T1. No adolescent withdrew from puberty suppression, and all started cross-sex hormone treatment, the first step of actual gender reassignment. CONCLUSION: Puberty suppression may be considered a valuable contribution in the clinical management of gender Dysphoria in adolescents.
Nazanin Derakshan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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improving attention control in Dysphoria through cognitive training transfer effects on working memory capacity and filtering efficiency
Psychophysiology, 2013Co-Authors: Max Owens, Ernst H. W. Koster, Nazanin DerakshanAbstract:Impaired filtering of irrelevant information from working memory is thought to underlie reduced working memory capacity for relevant information in Dysphoria. The current study investigated whether training-related gains in working memory performance on the adaptive dual n-back task could result in improved inhibitory function. Efficacy of training was monitored in a change detection paradigm allowing measurement of a sustained event-related potential asymmetry sensitive to working memory capacity and the efficient filtering of irrelevant information. Dysphoric participants in the training group showed training-related gains in working memory that were accompanied by gains in working memory capacity and filtering efficiency compared to an active control group. Results provide important initial evidence that behavioral performance and neural function in Dysphoria can be improved by facilitating greater attentional control.
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attentional control in Dysphoria an investigation using the antisaccade task
Biological Psychology, 2009Co-Authors: Nazanin Derakshan, Maureen Salt, Ernst H. W. KosterAbstract:We examined inhibitory mechanisms in Dysphoria using direct measures of attentional control. Dysphoric and non-dysphoric participants performed standard and delayed versions of the antisaccade and prosaccade tasks with facial expressions as stimuli. Results showed higher error rates in the standard antisaccade task than in the delayed tasks, with the dysphoric group having higher error rates in response to emotional facial expressions, in particular happy expressions. Our findings indicate impaired attentional processing in response to emotional facial expressions, in particular happy expressions, in Dysphoria. Implications for understanding the mechanisms underlying attentional control in Dysphoria are discussed.
Thomas D Steensma - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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poor peer relations predict parent and self reported behavioral and emotional problems of adolescents with gender Dysphoria a cross national cross clinic comparative analysis
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2016Co-Authors: Annelou L C De Vries, Peggy T Cohenkettenis, Thomas D Steensma, Doug P Vanderlaan, Kenneth J ZuckerAbstract:This study is the third in a series to examine behavioral and emotional problems in children and adolescents with gender Dysphoria in a comparative analysis between two clinics in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In the present study, we report Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Youth Self-Report (YSR) data on adolescents assessed in the Toronto clinic (n = 177) and the Amsterdam clinic (n = 139). On the CBCL and the YSR, we found that the percentage of adolescents with clinical range behavioral and emotional problems was higher when compared to the non-referred standardization samples but similar to the referred adolescents. On both the CBCL and the YSR, the Toronto adolescents had a significantly higher Total Problem score than the Amsterdam adolescents. Like our earlier studies of CBCL data of children and Teacher’s Report Form data of children and adolescents, a measure of poor peer relations was the strongest predictor of CBCL and YSR behavioral and emotional problems in gender dysphoric adolescents.
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treatment of adolescents with gender Dysphoria in the netherlands
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 2011Co-Authors: Peggy T Cohenkettenis, Thomas D Steensma, Annelou L C De VriesAbstract:In the Netherlands, gender dysphoric adolescents may be eligible for puberty suppression at age 12, subsequent cross-sex hormone treatment at age 16, and gender reassignment surgery at age 18. Initially, a thorough assessment is made of the gender Dysphoria and vulnerabilities in functioning or circumstances. Psychological interventions and/or gender reassignment may be offered. Psychological interventions are offered if the adolescent needs to explore gender identity and treatment wishes, suffers from coexisting problems, or needs support and counseling during gender reassignment. Although more studies are necessary, this approach seems to contribute significantly to the well-being of gender dysphoric adolescents.
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puberty suppression in adolescents with gender identity disorder a prospective follow up study
The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2011Co-Authors: Annelou L C De Vries, Thomas D Steensma, Theo A H Doreleijers, Peggy T CohenkettenisAbstract:ABSTRACT Introduction Puberty suppression by means of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) is used for young transsexuals between 12 and 16 years of age. The purpose of this intervention is to relieve the suffering caused by the development of secondary sex characteristics and to provide time to make a balanced decision regarding actual gender reassignment. Aim To compare psychological functioning and gender Dysphoria before and after puberty suppression in gender dysphoric adolescents. Methods Of the first 70 eligible candidates who received puberty suppression between 2000 and 2008, psychological functioning and gender Dysphoria were assessed twice: at T0, when attending the gender identity clinic, before the start of GnRHa; and at T1, shortly before the start of cross‐sex hormone treatment. Main Outcome Measures Behavioral and emotional problems (Child Behavior Checklist and the Youth‐Self Report), depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory), anxiety and anger (the Spielberger Trait Anxiety and Anger Scales), general functioning (the clinician's rated Children's Global Assessment Scale), gender Dysphoria (the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale), and body satisfaction (the Body Image Scale) were assessed. Results Behavioral and emotional problems and depressive symptoms decreased, while general functioning improved significantly during puberty suppression. Feelings of anxiety and anger did not change between T0 and T1. While changes over time were equal for both sexes, compared with natal males, natal females were older when they started puberty suppression and showed more problem behavior at both T0 and T1. Gender Dysphoria and body satisfaction did not change between T0 and T1. No adolescent withdrew from puberty suppression, and all started cross‐sex hormone treatment, the first step of actual gender reassignment. Conclusion Puberty suppression may be considered a valuable contribution in the clinical management of gender Dysphoria in adolescents. de Vries ALC, Steensma TD, Doreleijers TAH, and Cohen‐Kettenis PT. Puberty suppression in adolescents with gender identity disorder: A prospective follow‐up study. J Sex Med 2011;8:2276–2283.
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puberty suppression in adolescents with gender identity disorder a prospective follow up study
The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2011Co-Authors: Annelou L C De Vries, Thomas D Steensma, Theo A H Doreleijers, Peggy T CohenkettenisAbstract:INTRODUCTION: Puberty suppression by means of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) is used for young transsexuals between 12 and 16 years of age. The purpose of this intervention is to relieve the suffering caused by the development of secondary sex characteristics and to provide time to make a balanced decision regarding actual gender reassignment. AIM: To compare psychological functioning and gender Dysphoria before and after puberty suppression in gender dysphoric adolescents. METHODS: Of the first 70 eligible candidates who received puberty suppression between 2000 and 2008, psychological functioning and gender Dysphoria were assessed twice: at T0, when attending the gender identity clinic, before the start of GnRHa; and at T1, shortly before the start of cross-sex hormone treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Behavioral and emotional problems (Child Behavior Checklist and the Youth-Self Report), depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory), anxiety and anger (the Spielberger Trait Anxiety and Anger Scales), general functioning (the clinician's rated Children's Global Assessment Scale), gender Dysphoria (the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale), and body satisfaction (the Body Image Scale) were assessed. RESULTS: Behavioral and emotional problems and depressive symptoms decreased, while general functioning improved significantly during puberty suppression. Feelings of anxiety and anger did not change between T0 and T1. While changes over time were equal for both sexes, compared with natal males, natal females were older when they started puberty suppression and showed more problem behavior at both T0 and T1. Gender Dysphoria and body satisfaction did not change between T0 and T1. No adolescent withdrew from puberty suppression, and all started cross-sex hormone treatment, the first step of actual gender reassignment. CONCLUSION: Puberty suppression may be considered a valuable contribution in the clinical management of gender Dysphoria in adolescents.