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Rorschach characteristics in Gender Identity
Disorder (G.I.D.) subjects M. Molo, M. Gentile,
C. Crespi, E. Cappai Ce.R.Ne Research Centre in
Neuroscience Turin Italy

INTRODUCTION   Gender Identity
Disorder is characterized by two
essential features discomfort and
inappropriateness about ones anatomic sex and
the persistent wish to live as a member of the
opposite sex Clinicians are divided between the
two positions regarding psychological functioning
of G.I.D. subjects the first hypothesizes more
psychopathological index scores than the non
patient group and suggesting that G.I.D. subjects
suffer in other aspects of their personality
organization as well. On the other hand there is
a theoretical position thinking that G.I.D. is a
condition developing independently of
other psychopathology. Other psychopathology may
be secondary and related to the stress associated
with gender reassignment process.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Results of variables
relating to cognition and thought (PTI, Popular
responses, SCZI, XA) suggest that difficulties
in thinking coherently and logically are more
frequent in GID subjects than in the non-patients
group. In our opinion these observations do not
confirm the existence of severe psychopathology
condition but are probably related to
unconventional way of thinking (only the 1/3 of
the sample shows XA similar to non-patients
group) rather than to a nucleus of psychotic
thinking. According to the literature, these
difficulties in reacting to a situation in a
conventional way, are confirmed by the popular
response frequency (Tab.4), which in our sample
is very similar to DIG groups of other
research. Our sample shows some characteristics
in common with patients with depressive disorders
(DEPI 5 and PHR range 0-8). In our opinion
this result is related to social and relational
difficulties caused by G.I.D. condition. In fact
their stressfull lifestyle is also confirmed, in
our study, by AdjD results too. GID subjects
show less effectiveness in coping strategies
compared to non-patients (CDI score). In fact
high Lambda per cent of the sample and results of
SumV confirm that introspective characteristics
are related to GID condition. Our sample showed a
high number of sex contents compared to the
non-patients group in our opinion this result is
not a psychopathological sign but is related to
worries about physical and anatomical changes
related to sex reassignment process. This paper
is based on descriptive statistics and does not
claim to have reached definitive conclusions. In
our opinion, this study confirms the importance
of diagnostic research in G.I.D., which is still
difficult to carry out today.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The Rorschach test was administered according to
the procedure of Exner Comprehensive System. The
test was administered during the diagnostic
process (1st 6th month from the first contact
with the service). In addition to the Rorschach
Test, the G.I.D. sample was given an entire
psychological test battery as part of their
psychological intake assessment
THE AIM OF THE STUDY Our aim is to
investigate the presence, level and nature of
possible psychopathological indexes
using Rorschach data according to the Rorschach
Exner Comprehensive System.
RESULTS
VARIABLES G.I.D. PATIENTS G.I.D. PATIENTS NONPATIENTS ADULTS NONPATIENTS ADULTS
VARIABLES N N
PTI ? 3 15 27,3 600 1
DEPI ? 5 15 27,7 600 5
CDI ? 4 15 43,3 600 4
SCZI ? 4 15 26,7 700 0
AdjD gt 4 15 26,7 600 10
High Lambda 15 53,3 600 10
SumV ? 1 15 46 600 20,6
XA (70-90) 15 33,3 600 80
Sx ? 1 15 46,7 600 0,07
FQ no form ? 2 15 7 600 0,05
THE SAMPLE
Graph.1
The sample is composed of 15 adult G.I.D.
subjects (9 MtF and 6 FtM) under treatment at the
Consultorio di Sessuologia of Mauriziano
Umberto I Hospital and in Ce.R.Ne in Turin for
S.R.S. Physical examination ruled out the
presence of a physical intersex condition and all
subjects were free of substance abuse disorders
at the time of the evaluation. Higher number of
MtF subjects confirmed by the literature data.
Table 2 Results Definitions of the
variables PTI Perceptual-Thinking Index DEPI
Depression Index CDI Coping Deficit Index SCZI
Schizophrenia Index AdjD Adjusted Stress
Tolerance Index Lambda Coping style XA
Perceptual accuracy Sx Contents FQ Form
Quality Based on Mormont C., Michel A., Wauthy
J. (1995)
REFERENCES G.R. Caron, R.P.Archer MMPI and
Rorschach characteristics of individuals approved
for gender riassignment surgery Assessment,1997,
vol.4, number 3, 229-241 L. Cohen, C. De Ruiter,
H. Ringelberg, P.T. Cohen Kettenis Psychological
functioning of adolescent transsexuals
personality and psychopatology Journal of
clinical psychology, Vol.53(2), 1997, 187-196 J.
E. Exner A Primer for Rorschach Interpretation,
Rorschach WorkshopTM, Asheville, NC, 2000 C.
Mormont, A. Michel, J. Wauthy Transsexualism and
Connection with Reality Eorschach Data, in
Rorschachiana - Yearbook of the International
Rorschach Society , Hogrefe Huber Publishers,
vol 20, pg 172-187, 1995 Y. Smith, L. Cohen,
P.T. Cohen Kettenis Postoperative psychological
functioning of adolescent transsexual a
Rorschach study Archives of Sexual Behaviour,
Vol.31, no.3, 2002, 255-261 S. Tuber, S. Coates,
Indeces of psychopatology in the Rorchachs of
boys with severe Gender Identity Disorder a
comparison with normal control subjects Journal
of Personality Assessment, 1989, 53(1), 100-112
VARIABLES
Sex FtM 6 MtF 9
Age (average) 35,8
School attendance (average in years) 8,5
Civil Status Married 0 Mot married 15 Divorced 0 Widow/widower 0
Age of coming out (average) 17
DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS
Popular responses N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation
Popular responses 15 2 6 3,87 1,64
Table 3 Statistics about Popular responses

(perception of obvious fact)
Table 1. Socio-demographic features of the
sample