Psychiatric Hospitalization: Research Study

[Suziack]

The public at large would never approve funding for this project. 

This is just really a narrow-sighted answer, and does nothing for the question, or the possibilities. While the public has had a lot to do with promoting various health and sciences research, all the way from cancer research down to orphan drug studies, it has little to do with limiting research that special interests or people in certain political positions have want, or how that research is conducted.

I understand that ECT was used as a figure of speech to show the black and white of the proposed hypothetical treatment plan - obviously not endorsed, or offered as any kind of option for anything.

Rena-san - Are you sure your class project isn't instead to gauge people's reaction to this proposal?

Personally, I think it's a really good idea. The professionals who provided treatment would not be the proponents of auto-gyna-whatever-it's-called, Freudian proponents,  or dim-witted shrinks with a diplomas hanging on their walls, salivating and just waiting for a trans person to walk through their door.

Of course, there would be trans types who would have to be brought in kicking and screaming, but lots of people who are brought into psych wards fit this category - they just don't know or want what's best for them (so, yes, if they go more than half way, 84 hours, SRS should be mandatory). It think also that a mandatory outpatient release group home that could provide reintroduction into the real world would be beneficial. Agree with... probably it would be better to call it something other than psychiatric hospitalization.

Randi - Maybe people who don't get a 'Go' should be secretly transferred to the placebo hospital.

As a side note, maybe tattooing the forehead or implanted digital IDs so that other people in society would know that these people have been through the program would also be beneficial. We might find lawyers, bank tellers, politicians, check out girls, mechanics, ACTORS and ACTRESSES, and all sorts of people who went through the program. It wouldn't and couldn't be a secret to anyone, and "stealth" would be completely out of the question.

[kira21 ♡♡♡]

I really really hope that your response is a joke or you might be the kind of person I would not like to be stuck on a bus with!

[stephaniec]

I like the tattoo on the forehead idea. I want a purple butterfly.

[calico]

Of course, there would be trans types who would have to be brought in kicking and screaming, but lots of people who are brought into psych wards fit this category - they just don't know or want what's best for them (so, yes, if they go more than half way, 84 hours, SRS should be mandatory).


As a side note, maybe tattooing the forehead or implanted digital IDs so that other people in society would know that these people have been through the program would also be beneficial. We might find lawyers, bank tellers, politicians, check out girls, mechanics, ACTORS and ACTRESSES, and all sorts of people who went through the program. It wouldn't and couldn't be a secret to anyone, and "stealth" would be completely out of the question.

This type of writing or even thoughts make me sick, joke or otherwise.
I'm sory but for people who think like this should be a very special spot in hell. seriously , I am very offended by this.

[Suziack]

I like the tattoo on the forehead idea. I want a purple butterfly.

Stephaniec, You can have two of them.

[stephaniec]

Stephaniec, You can have two of them.

well, in that case, one purple and one orange

[Missy~rmdlm]

 No no. It must be a pink butterfly tattoo.

[aleon515]

I was hospitalized in my 20s. What you don't take into account is that in hospitalization you essentially have no rights-- you are actually a bit worse in status than a prisoner, since you have no right to attorney. I don't care if you voluntarily put yourself in. You are not allowed privacy. You are not treated as an adult person, but immediately any ideas or thoughts you might have are viewed within the scope of your "illness". I was politically active, so this was considered to be some kind of evidence of my psychiatric state. ECT is a specific treatment, which is not entirely safe. Many folks did lose short term memory skills in a significant way. You are inducing epileptic seizures. To just give this to folks doesn't seem like a good plan to me. It might have helped me (in some cases) but it didn't really treat the underlining condition.

Some kind of special house with folks totally understanding and geared to GD (perhaps who WERE trans) would of course be an option. But it would be hard to fund.

--Jay

[Ms Grace]

So this is a fairly emotive topic, however the original question is hypothetical (personally I wouldn't go for it) ...there have been three mod reports on this thread but it doesn't appear to be aflame, yet, so everyone remain calm. If you are being sarcastic in your response please be aware that some people can't read that very well, also be mindful that some people have had utterly traumatic experiences with the mental health system, some 'jokes' just aren't that funny in any context.

[Miss_Bungle1991]

As a side note, maybe tattooing the forehead or implanted digital IDs so that other people in society would know that these people have been through the program would also be beneficial.

Anyone attempting to do this to me would have their teeth kicked in and beaten to a bloody pulp. There is NO WAY in hell I would allow someone to do this to me.

[Sammy]

Anyone attempting to do this to me would have their teeth kicked in and beaten to a bloody pulp. There is NO WAY in hell I would allow someone to do this to me.

Well, I could imagine a lot of ways how that could be accomplished, but lets not delve into details cause they are not fun really... I have been in such institution (work-related visit, mind You) and seen the type of people working there. Umm... there are bouncers who would look quite petite in comparison.

[stephaniec]

I was hospitalized in my 20s. What you don't take into account is that in hospitalization you essentially have no rights-- you are actually a bit worse in status than a prisoner, since you have no right to attorney. I don't care if you voluntarily put yourself in. You are not allowed privacy. You are not treated as an adult person, but immediately any ideas or thoughts you might have are viewed within the scope of your "illness". I was politically active, so this was considered to be some kind of evidence of my psychiatric state. ECT is a specific treatment, which is not entirely safe. Many folks did lose short term memory skills in a significant way. You are inducing epileptic seizures. To just give this to folks doesn't seem like a good plan to me. It might have helped me (in some cases) but it didn't really treat the underlining condition.

Some kind of special house with folks totally understanding and geared to GD (perhaps who WERE trans) would of course be an option. But it would be hard to fund.

--Jay

I think the idea of having raw electrons forced into a water soak place like the brain doesn't particularly make me think that's such a great Idea . If there are synapses the aren't functioning properly to cause problems in the circuitry , an overload of electrons isn't going to heal the broken synapsis. just my opinion. of course if you want to lobotomize your brain go for it. not to be taken as being directed towards jay , just a general statement.

[Miss_Bungle1991]

Well, I could imagine a lot of ways how that could be accomplished, but lets not delve into details cause they are not fun really... I have been in such institution (work-related visit, mind You) and seen the type of people working there. Umm... there are bouncers who would look quite petite in comparison.

That wouldn't matter to me. I would fight back with whatever I could get my hands on. I wouldn't care about the repercussions, either. The whole thing is sick, screwed up and just plain wrong. I would have every right to defend myself regardless of what they or anyone else had to say, since I would see myself as being under attack.

The whole proposal is just screwed up.

[Ms Grace]

I'm going to reiterate...

This is a fairly emotive topic, however the original question is hypothetical (personally I wouldn't go for it) ...there have been three mod reports on this thread but it doesn't appear to be aflame, yet, so everyone remain calm.

If you are being sarcastic in your response please be aware that some people can't read that very well, also be mindful that some people have had utterly traumatic experiences with the mental health system, some 'jokes' just aren't that funny in any context.

Thanks

[Rena-san]

Yo!

Ok so ECT has nothing to do with my study. Just throwing that out there. And like some have said, this is entirely hypothetical. It's for a medical ethics course I'm taking. The purpose is to identify ethical issues/write a medical research proposal. (yes, with ethical flaws to point out).

Now, yes I am a post-op transsexual woman—though I don't really like to talk about that. So I'm not some old guy with a white beard trying to heard young mentally ill people around like cattle and shock them.

So far, I've actually really enjoyed the responses I've gotten and I'm glad that people are opinionated about this topic. But please do drop the ECT and Psychward horror stories/belittling people's mental health experiences by making jokes. This is a very serious topic, as all health related issues are. 

I myself am writing this from a perspective as a transsexual who feels she could have benefited from inpatient care. For those interested in this topic. So far I have identified the following variables and written this hypothesis:

Independent Variables
0 hours (control group): patient not required to be admitted to hospital prior to procedure(s). A control group. Normal WPATH standards apply. Participants randomly assigned to this group will have consented to the study, but as the variables are not disclosed to participants, will have no idea of the other groups.
Partial Hospitalization: patient will participate in most of the services offered to inpatient participants, but will not be housed or observed overnight in the hospital.
72 hours Commitment: patient will be admitted for a mandatory 72 hours. If, at the end of the 72 hours the patient decides to stay longer or the patient's assigned doctor feels a longer stay will help the patient may in fact stay over the 72 hour variable. They will still be accounted as a 72 hour patient but with an added amount of hours.
168 hours Commitment: patients in this group will be committed for a mandatory 168 hours, or one week. At the end of the week, as with the 72 hours group, the patient or doctor may feel a longer stay is required. 

Dependent variables: Patient Satisfaction/surgery decision
1.   Declined surgery: either the patient or their assigned doctor declined to follow-through with services after completion of the program.
2.   6 month follow-up
3.   12 month follow-up

Hypotheses: Individuals who receive partial hospitalization prior to being considered for hormonal treatment/sex-reassignment surgery will show more positive long-term satisfaction than the control group. Individuals in the 72 or 168 hours group will have a smaller number of follow-throughs with treatment due to a realization and understanding of more significant mental health problems, but for those who are recommended for surgery, they will show even more positive long-term satisfaction than the Partial hospitalization group.

And again, bear in mind this is just me—a lowly student—writing a mock research proposal that she personally thinks would have been a good program for her to have been part of. I just want to get ideas/see what others think. This is in no way meant to offend anyone.

[mrs izzy]

My biggest problem with these kinds of thinking it is old school as in we are mental.

It is not mental and that is why it has is changed from GID to now GB

Research needa to find what went wrong in utero. But there are so many other things that are in utero that also happen.

So ya. that is how i feel. To much blame on GD patient and not enough help letting them lead a life that feel is normal.

Isabell

[stephaniec]

well for me any mention of a doctor that seems to be one that I've never seen before suggesting I have an indeterminate amount of extra time in an institution because they don't like what I say is harking back to the early Soviet  Union or the present day North Korea especially given this program is supposed to be voluntary. I'm also concerned about the scope of the medical team involved in the decision making process considering this seems to be approaching an assembly line production for GRS. It's great to get excellent  professional medical care but this seems to be an assembly line approach to medical care. Put them in an institution decide who's worthy and do the operation. I'm all far great care , but this proposal would definitely not be my cup of tea. Now if I received free individual out patient care with a team of doctors and counselors that would be acceptable. I don't understand the institutional commitment idea or the doctor that's only known me for 72 hours or a week making that kind of decision about my care. Maybe you have a good proposal, but It's not for me.

[Dee Marshall]

Some kind of special house with folks totally understanding and geared to GD (perhaps who WERE trans) would of course be an option. But it would be hard to fund.

--Jay

I currently manage a house for the mentally ill which is otherwise exactly what you're suggesting. If such a place could be funded I would gladly run it. And to be clear, I'm NOT saying we're mentally ill, just showing my credentials for running a halfway house for delicate residents.

If it could be, say, in Maui or the Florida Keys, so much the better.

[aleon515]

Well excellent houses for homeless trans people or halfway houses and so on  have been funded. I'm talking about residential programs to provide services. The whole idea to me is kind of offensive and suggests that being transgender is a psychiatric illness. I don't agree it is any kind of illness at all. I think that programs using informed consent, free and/or low cost counseling, etc is the way we should be going. My transition has been 180 degrees different than the above model and didn't involve months and months of waiting. I had counseling which was free for about 11 months. That was what I needed it wouldn't have been required. I know folks who had 1-3 sessions. I have a PA who is very sensitive to gender issues and totally awesome. I go to support groups which are free to me. If I could clone THAT. I would. I have no current psych issues. I am very happy with my transition.

--Jay

[mrs izzy]

Well excellent houses for homeless trans people or halfway houses and so on  have been funded. I'm talking about residential programs to provide services. The whole idea to me is kind of offensive and suggests that being transgender is a psychiatric illness. I don't agree it is any kind of illness at all. I think that programs using informed consent, free and/or low cost counseling, etc is the way we should be going. My transition has been 180 degrees different than the above model and didn't involve months and months of waiting. I had counseling which was free for about 11 months. That was what I needed it wouldn't have been required. I know folks who had 1-3 sessions. I have a PA who is very sensitive to gender issues and totally awesome. I go to support groups which are free to me. If I could clone THAT. I would. I have no current psych issues. I am very happy with my transition.

--Jay

Well said. If we just had the real help to move forward and acceptance would make a HUGE difference.

There is a well documented path to happiness, just to many want to force us to fit there model or mold.
Isabell