Postoperative psychological functioning of adolescent transsexuals : a Rorschach study

Y. Smith, L. Cohen, P. Cohen-Kettenis

The Rorschach Comprehensive System was used to assess postoperative psychological functioning in transsexuals who applied for sex reassignment in adolescence. We investigated a group of 22 consecutive adolescent transsexuals, who were otherwise psychologically well adapted. Nineteen subjects provided valid Rorschach protocols before and after sex reassignment. The most notable change found was an increase in X+%, reflecting a decrease in both distorted perception and idiosyncratic perception. Little support was found for the idea of major psychological deterioration for the patients as a group. Rather, the results suggest stability in psychological functioning over time. The Rorschach findings are consistent with questionnaire data from earlier studies, with the exception that the Rorschach data may point to some improvement in reality testing.