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Depression and transgender

Research repeatedly shows an increased prevalence of depressive complaints and disorders in transgender people compared with cisgender controls.

Increased prevalence

Research repeatedly shows an increased prevalence of depressive complaints and disorders in transgender people compared with cisgender controls. Factors mentioned are discrimination, social isolation, shame and bodily dysphoria (the 'minority stress' model).

Comorbidity and care order

The Cass Review and international guidelines stress the importance of careful assessment of mental-health complaints alongside gender dysphoria. Not all dysphoria improves with medical transition; depression often requires separate targeted treatment.

Suicide risk

The risk of suicide in transgender people, especially young people, is higher than in the general population. The Dutch cohort study by Wiepjes and colleagues (2020) showed that suicide death remains elevated even after medical transition, underlining that care must be broader than medical interventions alone.