Internet-delivered Treatment for Transgender Individuals With Co-occurring Mental Health Problems
Condition: Gender Dysphoria; Emotion Regulation; Internet Delivered Treatment
MeSH terms: Gender Dysphoria
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This project aims to develop and evaluate if an internet delivered psychological intervention
      for transgender individuals undergoing assessment for gender dysphoria and a support person,
      is feasible, acceptable and effective in increasing emotional skills, strengthening a healthy
      identity development, social support and resilience to current and future mental illness.

      In two studies, a psychological treatment for transgender adults (18+) seeking health care
      for gender dysphoria and a support person (i.e., relative, friend) will be evaluated.

      The project will be carried out at a specialized unit for transgender health care (ANOVA) at
      Karolinska University Hospital
    

Detailed description: 
      There are no psychosocial treatments for young transgender adults seeking treatment for
      gender dysphoria - psychological distress due to the incongruence between one's assigned sex
      and one's gender identity. This project aims to develop and evaluate if an internet delivered
      psychological intervention for individuals undergoing assessment for gender dysphoria and a
      support person, is feasible, acceptable and effective in increasing emotional skills,
      strengthening a healthy identity development, social support and resilience to current and
      future mental illness.

      Data and Method: In three studies, a psychological treatment for transgender adults (18+)
      seeking care for gender dysphoria and a support person (i.e., relative, friend) will be
      evaluated. Study 1 is a feasibility study (N=40) with pre-, post- and weekly assessments
      evaluating the intervention's feasibility, credibility, acceptability and preliminary
      efficacy. Study 2 is a qualitative interview study exploring participants' experience of the
      intervention.

      Plan for project realization: The project will be carried out at a specialized unit for
      transgender health care (ANOVA) at Karolinska University Hospital, with a large patient
      recruitment base and extensive experience of clinical studies providing good opportunities
      for later implementation in regular care.

      Relevance: Studies show elevated rates of psychopathology in transgender adults. It has been
      suggested that experiences of minority stress, e.g., discrimination, internalized transphobia
      and gender identity concealment exhausts the ability to regulate negative emotions in an
      adaptive way. There is a need for treatment and preventive psychological interventions,
      particularly as the number of young transgender adults seeking gender affirming treatment has
      increased markedly during the 2000s. This project will lead to increased knowledge about the
      specific needs of this growing patient group and develop health care in accordance with
      national guidelines.
    

Intervention name(s): IERGD; IER SUPPORT
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Other
Intervention description(s): A 10 week behavioral treatment focusing on gender minority stress, maladaptive and adaptive emotion regulation, emotional awareness, the functionality of emotions, interpersonal skills and values and valued actions.; A 5-week behavioral course for a designated support person (family, friend, other) to the person with GD. The course focuses on teachings on living with minority stress, maladaptive and adaptive emotion regulation, emotional awareness, validation, interpersonal skills and values.
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: Study 1 is a feasibility study with pre- and post-assessments evaluating feasibility, acceptability and satisfaction of the study protocol and the preliminary efficacy of I-ER. Study 1 consists of IERGD (a behavioral intervention for individuals with GD) and IER SUPPORT (a parallell behavioral course for a support person to the person with GD).
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment