Structured Pubertal Suppression Readiness Assessment for Gender Dysphoric Youth

Lurie Children'S Hospital Of Chicago, Chicago IL

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Abstract

Gender-variant youth exhibit disproportionally high rates of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, self-harm, and suicidality. They often present seeking medical or mental health treatment for gender dysphoria, which manifests with particular severity as youth enter puberty. Clinical practice guidelines recommend that gender dysphoric youth in early stages of puberty receive medical treatment to suppress endogenous puberty and prevent the development of undesired secondary sex characteristics. These clinical guidelines reference recommendations by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health that youth satisfy eligibility and readiness criteria as determined by a mental health clinician prior to initiating pubertal suppression treatment. While eligibility criteria are clearly defined, readiness is not well operationalized. Indeed, youth are considered ready for pubertal suppression if they understand expected outcomes, benefits, and risks of treatment. However, there is no objective measure of readiness, and reliance is placed on subjective ?clinical expertise?. This lack of standardized assessment is an increasing problem as medical treatment for gender dypshoria is more commonly sought and pubertal suppression is more widely accepted as standard of care. The goal of the proposed study is to develop an assessment tool that can aid mental health clinicians in systematically assessing readiness for pubertal suppression from a decisional capacity framework. Specific aims are to (Aim 1) develop a Pubertal Suppression Readiness Assessment Tool (PS-RAT) by following methods used to develop an existing vignette-based measure of decisional capacity, obtaining expert feedback on the tool, and assessing initial reliability and validity, and (Aim 2) explore how neurocognitive and emotional functioning are associated with decisional capacity as measured by the PS-RAT. Successful completion of this study will result in a prototype PS-RAT which will (1) assist clinicians in systematically and objectively assessing youth?s breadth and depth of understanding the potential risks and benefits of pubertal suppression treatment for gender dysphoria, (2) help to identify specific domains in which youth may need additional psychoeducation and/or therapeutic support to facilitate readiness to move forward with treatment, and (3) contribute to informed decision-making by youth and families.