Gender identity disorders (also known as transsexualism) is defined as a condition in which a person with apparently normal somatic sexual differentiation is convinced that he or she is actually a member of the other sex. Most patients therefore undergo so called cross-sex hormone treatment. Treatment protocols follow international consensus statements but vary considerably between different centres and countries since no prospective and controlled trials are available on this subject and recommendations are mainly based on retrospective data analysis and experience of the individual centres. Applying high doses of testosterone to biological females and vice versa high doses of estradiol to biological males definitely impacts myriads of body functions, from which it has to be assumed that only a minority has already been elucidated so far. Especially in male-to-female-transsexuals there seems to be an increased risk for the development of mood disorders and cardiometabolic comorbidities. In this multi-center observational study we want to investigate, if there is any difference with regard to these outcomes, according to the varying standards of cross-sex hormone treatment between the different centers. Different outcome measures described below will be assessed each time during routine visits at the different centers.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
100
Gynaecological department of the University hospital of Erlangen
Erlangen, Germany
Institute for Sex Research and Forensic Psychiatry
Hamburg, Germany
Hormon- und Stoffwechselzentrum München
Munich, Germany
Incidence of depressive and anxious symptoms following initiation of cross-sex hormone treatment
Incidence of depressive and anxious symptoms by means of clinical interview and questionnaires in the the study period defined by different cut-off points in the point scales of the corresponding questionnaire (Beck Depression Inventory II = BDII and Symptomcheckliste bei psychischen Störungen = SCL90 for depression and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory = STAI-X1, X2 for anxiety). A comparison will then be done between the different treatment modes.
Time frame: Up to 5 years
Differences in the effects of the different treatment types on cardiometabolic parameters
Differences in the effects of the different treatment types (differing in dose, application route and type of antiandrogen used) on cardiometabolic risk-parameters such as BMI, body-composition, fasting Insulin, fasting glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, intima media thickness.
Time frame: Up to 5 years
Effects of cross-sex hormone treatment on cortisol secretion by hair cortisol measurements
Assessment of cortisol secretion by a hair sample which provides information about the mean cortisol secretion during the last months. One cm of scalp hair resembles approximately 1 month of growth. This may provide additional information concerning overall cortisol secretion during the last 3 months. One small hair will be sampled by scalp and this will be analysed in regard to psychological and metabolic profiles.
Time frame: Up to 5 years
Effects of cross-sex hormone treatment on stress-response by means of Dex/CRH-testing
The Dex/CRH-Test has been in use for several years for testing the physiological cortisol-response in psychiatric and neurologic patients and is performed on a routine basis in the Max-Planck Institute for Psychiatry in patients suffering from depressive disorders. It is assumed that regulation of cortisol secretion and responsiveness of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis is pathophysiologically related to depression. The test has been proven to be save. Common transient side-effects include flushing, palpitation, tachypnoea and feeling of warmth which usually resolve within minutes without further intervention.
Time frame: Up to 5 years
Genetic predictors for treatment response
Predictive value of different polymorphism in genes such as the ERa, ERb and AR (Androgen Receptor), GR (Glucocorticoid-Receptor) or genes involved in steroid metabolism and function on metabolic profiles, breast development and psychiatric outcome.
Time frame: Up to 5 years
Effects of cross-sex hormone treatment on the metabolome
Differences in plasma and urine metabolome in plasma such as amino acids; carbohydrates and related; catecholamines and related; complex lipids and related; energy metabolism and organic acids; fatty acids (free and from lipids); purines, pyrimidines and related; steroids and related; vitamins, cofactors and related.
Time frame: Up to 5 years
Effects of cross-sex hormone treatment on peripheral neurotrophins
Effects of cross-sex hormone treatment on serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels will be assessed in regular intervals during routine visits.
Time frame: Up to 5 years
Association of hair cortisol and cortisol response during dex/crh-testing with psychopathology-scores assessed by clinical interview and questionnaires
The following interviews will be used: * The MINI-PLUS interview assessing DSM axis I disorders \[57\]. * The SCID-II interview assessing DSM axis II disorders The following questionaires will be used • stress coping (SVF-78) Personality: * personality (EPQ, TPQ,NEO-FFI) * self-reported quality of life (SF-36) * subjective body experience (FBeK) * self concept (SKI) * social support (B-Lor, FSOZ-U) * early life trauma (CTQ) Psychopathology: * State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI Form X1, STAI Form X2) * Depressive symptoms (BDI II) * Psychopathology in general (SCL-90) Associations of cortisol- and ACTH response following dex/crg-challenge will be analyzed with regard to the presence of depression assessed by clinical interview and psychopathology scores assessed by BDI and STAIX. The other questionnaires will be used for multidimensional modelling.
Time frame: Up to 5 years
Predictive value of hair cortisol and cortisol response in dex/crh-testing treatment for depression and anxiety
Predictive value of hair cortisol 3 month at baseline and after treatment initiation and cortisol response at baseline and after 3 month after treatment initiation during dex/crh-testing for 12 month incidence of depressive or anxiety disorders assessed by clinical interview and questionnaires. The following interviews will be used: * The MINI-PLUS interview assessing DSM axis I disorders \[57\]. * The SCID-II interview assessing DSM axis II disorders The following questionaires will be used * State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI Form X1, STAI Form X2) * Depressive symptoms (BDI II) * Psychopathology in general (SCL-90)
Time frame: Up to 5 years
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