Abstract
Childhood maltreatment (CM) is quite common and constitutes a nonspecific risk factor for a range of different psychiatric symptoms during lifespan. It has been demonstrated that sexual minorities are at higher risk of maltreatment and abuse, and a high proportion of transsexual subjects report CM. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of reported CM in a clinical sample of patients with male-to-female Gender Identity Disorder (MtF GID), and to explore the relationship between these early life events, body image and different psychopathological and clinical variables. A consecutive series of 162 patients with male genotype was evaluated from July 2008 to May 2010. A total of 109 subjects (mean age 36±10 years) meeting the criteria for MtF GID and giving their informed consent were considered. The occurrence of CM experiences was evaluated through a face-to-face clinical interview. Patients were asked to complete the Body Uneasiness Test and Symptom Checklist-90 Revised. More than one-fourth of patients reported CM. Maltreated subjects reported a higher body dissatisfaction and display a worse lifetime mental health. The presence of reported CM in these patients has relevant psychopathological implications, and therefore should be carefully investigated.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Silvia Cerpolini, and Antonietta Costantino, (University of Bologna); Anna Gualerzi and Cinzia Catalani (University of Turin); and Silvia Di Tommaso (University of L'Aquila).
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Appendix
Appendix
Childhood maltreatment, as derived from a clinical interview. The way of raising the questions is reported along with its relative scoring (in italics).
(1) Specific maltreatment
Emotional abuse:
‘During your childhood, were you ever shouted at/ insulted/ criticized/threatened/ignored/humiliated?’
Rating: 0=no, 1=yes.
Emotional neglect:
‘During your childhood, did you have detached and uninvolved parents?’
Rating: 0=no, 1=yes.
Physical abuse:
‘During your childhood, were you ever beaten/kicked/burnt/suffocated/cut/shot/locked up?
Rating: 0=no, 1=yes.
Physical neglect:
‘During your childhood, were you ever deprived of food/clothing/shelter/medical care?’
Rating: 0=no, 1=yes.
Sexual abuse:
‘During your childhood, were you ever sexually molested by an adult, with or without physical contact?’
Rating: 0=no, 1=yes.
(2) Frequency
‘Was this experience perpetuated several times?’
Rating: 0=no, 1=yes.
(3) Perpetrator (only for sexual abuse)
‘Was this experience perpetrated by an unknown subject?’
Rating: 0=no, 1=yes.
‘Was this experience perpetrated by a family friend?’
Rating: 0=no, 1=yes.
‘Was this experience perpetrated by a family member?’
Rating: 0=no, 1=yes.
‘Was this experience perpetrated by one or both parents?’
Rating: 0=no, 1=yes.
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Bandini, E., Fisher, A., Ricca, V. et al. Childhood maltreatment in subjects with male-to-female gender identity disorder. Int J Impot Res 23, 276–285 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2011.39
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2011.39
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