XVII Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association Symposium
31 October - 4 November 2001, Galveston, Texas, U.S.A.

Gender Identity Disorder: Social and Relational Aspects

RAVENNA, ANNA R. Italy
Co-authors: Anna M. Acocella, Luca Chianura & Maddalena Mosconi (Italy)
E-mail: igf.roma@iname.com

It is only in the past few years that transsexualism has been deeply investigated systematically. In fact, in Italy there is a lack of data on both the incidence of transsexualism and on the behavior of transexuals. In this paper we present our experience on this topic. In Servizio per l’adeguamento tra identita fisica e identita psichica (SAIFIP) Unita Operativa di Chirurgia Plastica e Riconstruttiva Azienda Ospedaliera S.Camillo Forlanini, we observed from 1997 till June 2000, 190 patients. All the patients were investigated from endocrinologic, psychologic and social points of view. The following data was collected: distribution of sex and age, place of birth, residence, family, social and cultural environments. The data was obtained from the "Hospital Psychological Case History" and the Survey on Motivation and Expectations." These instruments were utilized in such a way as to provide a cognitive comprehension of the personal and social history of the person requesting sexual reassignment surgery, in particular as regards the psychological problems related to the gender identity disorder and the expectations connected to the reassignment itself.