Comparing Interpersonal Problems in Male-to-Female Transsexuals before Sex Reassignment Surgery, after Sex Reassignment Surgery and Normal Individuals

Gender Identity Disorder (GID) or transsexualism is characterized by a strong and persistent sense of inappropriateness of biological sex in given individuals. Understanding, preventing and treating of this psychological disorder provides a serious challenge for clinicians. In order to better understanding of GIDs, the aim of the present study was to compare interpersonal problems between three groups including transsexuals after sex reassignment surgery (SRS), transsexuals before SRS and normal individuals. Thirty five Male-to-Female (MF) transsexuals (20 transsexuals before SRS, 15 transsexuals after SRS) and also twenty normal females participated in this study. All participants were asked to complete the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-60). The results revealed that the higher average scores in dimensions of interpersonal problems belonged to transsexuals before SRS, transsexuals after SRS and normal individuals, respectively. The difference between transsexuals after SRS and normal individuals was not significant in interpersonal problems scales. Based on these results, one can conclude that sex reassignment surgery might reduce interpersonal problems of transsexuals.