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Effects of treating gender dysphoria and anorexia nervosa in a transgender adolescent: Lessons learned
Author(s) -
Strandjord Sarah E.,
Ng Henry,
Rome Ellen S.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.22438
Subject(s) - gender dysphoria , transgender , anorexia nervosa , dysphoria , psychology , gender identity disorder , eating disorders , clinical psychology , gender identity , bulimia nervosa , developmental psychology , psychiatry , psychotherapist , anxiety , social psychology , psychoanalysis
Patients with gender dysphoria and patients with eating disorders often experience discontent with their bodies. Several reports have recognized the co‐occurrence of these two conditions, typically in adults who identify as transgender females and desire a more feminine physique. This case report, in contrast, describes a 16‐year‐old patient with a female sex assigned at birth who first presented with features consistent with anorexia nervosa and later revealed underlying gender dysphoria with a drive for a less feminine body shape. We discuss both the path to recognizing gender dysphoria in this patient as well as the impact of treatment on his eating disorder and overall well‐being. This case is one of only a few reports describing a female‐to‐male transgender patient with an eating disorder and is the first to explore the effects of hormone and surgical intervention in an adolescent patient. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2015; 48:942–945).