Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32777129›Full record

ArticleAndrology2021

Long-term effect of gender-affirming hormone treatment on depression and anxiety symptoms in transgender people: A prospective cohort study.

Zoë Aldridge, Shireen Patel, Boliang Guo, Elena Nixon, Walter Pierre Bouman, Gemma L Witcomb, Jon Arcelus

Open access · hybridAbstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Andrology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 42 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
42citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
8.5field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

42 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 99 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Trial
  7. Review
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Review
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Elevated Risk of Thyroid Malignancy in Biological Males Taking Estrogen Hormone Therapy.Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Zoë AldridgeFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Shireen PatelFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Boliang GuoFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Elena NixonFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Walter Pierre BoumanFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Gemma L WitcombNottingham Centre for Transgender Health, Nottingham, UK.
Jon ArcelusFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-3805-0180
University of Nottingham · GBNottingham Biomedical Research Centre · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCross-sectional studies show that transgender people are more likely than cisgender people to experience depression and anxiety before gender-affirming hormone treatment (GAHT). However, the effect of GAHT on mental health in transgender people, and the role of other factors that may have a predictive effect, is poorly explored.

objectivesUsing a longitudinal methodology, this study investigated the effect of 18-month GAHT on depression and anxiety symptomatology and the predictors on mental health outcomes in a large population of transgender people. MATERIALS AND

methodsParticipants (n = 178) completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Autism Spectrum Quotient-Short Version (AQ-Short) at pre-assessment (T0) and at 18 months after initiation of GAHT (T1).

resultsFrom T0 to T1, symptomatology was significantly decreased for depression (P < .001) and non-significantly reduced for anxiety (P = .37). Scores on the MSPSS predicted reduction in depression, while scores on the AQ-Short predicted reduction in anxiety. DISCUSSION: GAHT reduces symptoms of depression which are predicted by having higher levels of social support. Although anxiety symptoms also reduce, the changes are not significant and high levels of anxiety still remain post-GAHT.

conclusionsThese results highlight the important mental health benefits of GAHT. Support services (professional, third sector or peer support) aiming at increasing social support for transgender individuals should be made available.

Indexed as

AdultAnxietyDepressionFemaleGender-Affirming ProceduresHormone Replacement TherapyHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleProspective StudiesTransgender PersonsTranssexualismTreatment OutcomeYoung Adultautismhormone therapylongitudinalmental healthsocial supporttransgender

Identifiers

PMID32777129
OpenAlexW3048666851

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.