Gender-Affirming Surgery Improves Mental Health Outcomes and Decreases Antidepressant Use in Patients with Gender Dysphoria.

Background: Patients with gender dysphoria face significant health disparities and barriers to care. Transition-related care includes hormonal therapy, mental health care, and gender-affirming surgery. Studies have described favorable surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction; however, the degree to which these procedures affect mental health conditions is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of gender-affirming plastic surgery on mental health and substance misuse in the transgender population.

Methods: A national insurance claims-based database was used for data collection. Patients with a diagnosis of gender dysphoria were propensity score-matched for the likelihood of undergoing gender-affirming surgery (no surgery being the control cohort), based on comorbidities, age, and sex. Primary outcomes included postoperative antidepressant use and the prevalence of mental health conditions.

Results: A total of 3134 patients with gender dysphoria were included in each cohort. Patients in the surgery group had overall lower rates of mental health conditions, substance misuse, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor use. There was an absolute decrease of 8.8% in selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor prescription after gender-affirming plastic surgery ( P < 0.001), and significant decreases were found in postoperative depression (7.7%), anxiety (1.6%), suicidal ideation (5.2%) and attempts (2.3%), alcohol misuse (2.1%), and drug misuse (1.9%).

Conclusion: Gender-affirming surgery in appropriately selected patients with gender dysphoria is associated with decreased postoperative rates of SSRI or SNRI use and improved mental health.

Clinical question/level of evidence: Therapeutic, IV.