Participants wanted for research - The complexity of ->-bleeped-<-

[EllieH]

The Complexity of ->-bleeped-<-

Research study

We are conducting a study which aims to explore the characteristics of people who consider themselves to have a gender identity of either a combination of male and female characteristics or neither and who have either altered their appearance to appear androgynous or who desire to alter their appearance.  It is our experience that some people who fit this description have needs which are not presently recognised or met by medical services.  We would like to better understand these types of people in order to address this area of unmet need.

If you would like to know more about participating in the study, please contact Dr Anna Stout at:

Email:      annastout@hotmail.com
Post:   Anxiety Disorders Residential Unit, Royal Bethlem Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 3BX
Tel:   07811 352 320

Participation in the study will involve meeting with the researcher, Dr Anna Stout,
at a time and place convenient to yourself.  At this meeting, you will be asked a series of questions regarding issues such as the age at onset and the development of any gender dysphoria; sexuality and sexual dysfunction; the motivation for androgyny; the physical changes desired; the degree of preoccupation, the nature of any gender dysphoria; the distress and handicap related to any gender dysphoria; the obstacles to achieving androgynous appearance; the success or failure of such surgery and any experience of psychiatric services. 

You will also be asked to complete a series of questionnaires regarding mental health and sexuality.  The interview and the questionnaires should take approximately 2-3 hours to complete.

All information which is collected about you during the course of the research will be kept strictly confidential, and any information about you which leaves the hospital/surgery will have your name and address removed so that you cannot be recognised. All data will be anonymous.

The study has been reviewed by the East Central London Research Ethics Committee 1.
         
Thank you for taking the time to read this information sheet and considering taking part in the study.

Dr. Anna Stout
Dr. David Veale

[RabbitsOfTheWorldUnite]

I would gladly take part in any study like this but I'm stateside. Do you have any affiliates on this side of the pond? I'm in north carolina and would be willing to travel as far as Johns Hopkins. 
I'm currently back on HRT after a lapse of a couple years; in addition, I've taken certain matters into my own hands which are best not discussed online but I'd gladly relate to you via phone or in person.

[noeleena]

Hi

Looks like its only for those in the U K . Oh well   not this  time then...

...noeleena...

[RabbitsOfTheWorldUnite]

Wonderful quote: "Love life, live life"
I wish people could just stop complaining and LIVE!!

[Padma]

I'm hoping there's nothing suspect to read into the fact of a "->-bleeped-<-" study being hosted at an Anxiety Disorders Residential Unit - but it does make my ears twitch.

What is the connexion between the two, for the purposes of this study? I can imagine that for some transfolk, their transgender issues could trigger anxiety disorders (and it would therefore be valuable for people treating anxiety disorders to be better informed about the issues) - I'm just concerned that ->-bleeped-<- is not being itself considered an anxiety disorder here. Just checking.

[RabbitsOfTheWorldUnite]

I know that I had high anxiety levels before acting and setting out a life goal. Now that everything is in motion I'm far less disturbed.

[rejennyrated]

The Bethlehem Royal Maudsley Hospital, was for many years  in the 1980's one of only two lead centers in the UK for the treatment of GID.

Under their lead clinician Dr Christie-Brown they offered an alternative approach to that being developed at the better known Charing Cross.

As I understand it they are much keener on a wholistic approach - that is to say that you treat the patients state of being rather than individual components of it, so ->-bleeped-<- would indeed cross-over into other commonly co-morbid conditions like anxiety disorder, Eating disorders, self harm, substance abuse all of which have a higher incidence in this community than in the more general population.

As far as I can see this study is entirely legitimate. The names check out and I can see no reason to doubt the veracity of this posting. I am therefore unlocking.

[Padma]

Okay, thanks for doing the legwork for me .

[Adrienne May]

One only has to read the posts here to see the different degrees of anxiety. There is anxiety in coming out to ones family, of the mechanics of transitioning of walking down the street in your new persona.

I am thankful that transsexualism or gender dysphoria is now taken seriously and bona fide doctors want to investigate it further. In my case the extreme unhappiness abated with the change and even all my other troubles of loss of property, job, family were compensated by the change and of becoming to an extent the person I had always felt myself to be. Up until the mid seventies they were trying such things aversion therapy and just putting one to sleep for 2 or 3 months as a 'cure'. Randall at Charing X wanted to use aversion therapy on me then finally gave me the treatment I wanted. So I am glad to see legitimate research still going on.

[rejennyrated]

Randall at Charing X wanted to use aversion therapy on me then finally gave me the treatment I wanted. So I am glad to see legitimate research still going on.

SNAP!

I first saw John in 1976 - (although privately in Harley St) he was horrified that I had managed to partially transition in childhood and forced me to de-transition before he would consider starting treatment.

As a result I had an unpleasant interruption in my life - which only got sorted out when Randall died. At that point I retransitioned rather rapidly and finally got SRS in the mid 80's.

It seems like we are from a similar era...

[EllieH]

Many thanks to all who have commented and expressed an interest in our project! Just to clarify, we are using the Anxiety Disorders Unit as a base but our project is not to do with anxiety disorders; rather this hopes to be an exploratory study looking into the difficulties people have experienced in obtaining surgery to alter their appearance in order to appear gender-neutral (please forgive me if I use terms incorrectly.  This is a new area for me, and I am grateful for advice where needed!) but who have been refused.  Our project is still recruiting if anybody feels they would like to participate.

With best wishes
Anna Stout

[Lee]

Unfortunately I'm too far away, but good luck with your research.

[Mika]

I would love to participate in this, but I'm also way too far away 

Will results be published? I'd be interested in that