According to a recent article published in JAMA Pediatrics, young transgender women are more likely than the general U.S. population to be affected by substance use and mental health issues. The Project LifeSkills study, which involved nearly 300 transgender women between the ages of 16 and 29, was led by researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital. The study team found that approximately 42% of the participants had one more mental health or substance use disorder diagnosis, and 20% had two or more diagnoses. Further, the risk of mental health and substance use issues appears to increase with age.

 

With regard to specific mental health diagnoses, the study team found that about one-third of participants reported lifetime depression, and 15% were currently depressed. Approximately 20% reported having suicidal thoughts in the past month; 8% reported anxiety in the past 6 months; and approximately 10% reported having post-traumatic stress disorder. With regard to substance use disorder diagnoses, 11% reported past year alcohol dependence, and 15% reported non-alcohol substance dependence.

 

This study highlights the critical need for primary care and behavioral health providers to learn how to tailor their treatment programs and approaches to be more responsive to the needs of transgender individuals, particularly young transgender women. Improving access to routine primary care, diagnostic screening, psychotherapy, pharmacologic treatments, and retention in care are all essential components to more effectively address the mental health and substance use disorders in this population.

The full article can be accessed from: http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2504261