TRAITS OF SEPARATION ANXIETY IN BOYS WITH GENDER IDENTITY DISORDER

Objective: To assess the presence of traits of separation anxiety diso rder in boys referred clinically for gender identity disorder. Method: One hundred fifteen boys were referred to a specialty clinic for conc erns about their gender identity development. They were divided into t wo subgroups: one group met the complete diagnostic criteria for gende r identity disorder; the other group did not meet the complete diagnos tic criteria. The mothers of the boys were administered a structured i nterview schedule pertaining to separation anxiety disorder according to DSM-III criteria. Results: A conservative definition of separation anxiety disorder showed no significant association with gender identit y disorder; however, a liberal definition of separation anxiety disord er showed that it occurred significantly more often in the subgroup of boys who met the complete criteria for gender identity disorder than in the subgroup who did not meet the complete criteria (64.4% versus 3 8.1%, respectively). Conclusions: Boys with gender identity disorder s how a high rate of cooccurring traits of separation anxiety. Reasons f or this linkage require additional empirical study.