Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan for Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender Expansive Individuals: An Interactive Case-based Workshop

Transgender, non-binary, and/or gender expansive (TNG) individuals often seek gender-affirming ‎hormone therapy (GAHT) to alleviate their internal sense of incongruent embodiment and/ or distress ‎around societal illegibility. During this workshop, participants will learn the basic tenets of initiating and ‎managing various forms of GAHT. We will cover a range of psychopharmacological considerations when ‎initiating and managing GAHT. Participants will review perioperative medication management for ‎patients undergoing gender-affirming surgery. The potential for interaction between GAHT and ‎psychotropic medications will be addressed. We will also discuss side-effects of psychotropic ‎medications which may impact sexual function and/ or physical appearance. Participants will develop ‎an understanding of psychotherapeutic factors at play within the pharmacotherapeutic consultation ‎for TNG individuals, particularly as they interact with gender minority stress. Given the multiple ‎approaches to addressing gender dysphoria and nuanced pharmacotherapeutic considerations, the ‎role of patient involvement in clinical decision-making is critical.‎

Participants will integrate and operationalize knowledge learned in this presentation using the model ‎of culturally informed shared decision-making: a) introducing choice, b) describing options, and c) ‎helping patients explore preferences and make decisions. Using an interactive case-based format, ‎participants will engage with the content in real-time, to ensure they are comfortable implementing ‎gender-affirming psychopharmacology in their clinical practice.‎

References: ‎
‎(1) Coleman, E., Radix, A. E., Bouman, W. P., Brown, G. R., De Vries, A. L. C., Deutsch, M. B., ... & ‎Arcelus, J. (2022). Standards of care for the health of transgender and gender diverse people, version ‎‎8. International Journal of Transgender Health.‎
‎(2) Elwyn, G., Frosch, D., Thomson, R., Joseph-Williams, N., Lloyd, A., Kinnersley, P., ... & Barry, M. ‎‎(2012). Shared decision making: a model for clinical practice. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 27, ‎‎1361-1367.‎
‎(3) Goldberg, J. F., & Ernst, C. L. (2018). Managing the side effects of psychotropic medications (2nd ‎ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing.‎
‎(4) Meyer, I. H. (2015). Resilience in the study of minority stress and health of sexual and gender ‎minorities. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 2(3), 209.‎
‎(5) Lambert, A., Pratt, A., Conard, L. A. E., Grigg Dean, E., Page, E., Vaughn, L. M., & Lipstein, E. A. ‎‎(2022). Supporting gender-related medical decision making for transgender and gender-diverse ‎individuals: A Scoping review. Transgender Health.‎