An editor has nominated this article for deletion. You are welcome to participate in the deletion discussion , which will decide whether or not to retain it. |
Peggy T. Cohen-Kettenis (born 23 August 1948) is a Dutch psychologist and academic. [1] Since 1993 she has been Special Professor of Gender Development and Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, Utrecht University. [1] As one of the principal architects of the Dutch Protocol, her work has had a major influence on the global understanding and treatment of gender dysphoria in children and adolescents.
The idea of using puberty blockers originated in the Netherlands and was developed by Cohen-Kettenis, pediatric endocrinologist Henriette Delemarre, child psychiatrist Annelou de Vries, [2] and health psychologist Thomas D. Steensma. The first patient received these drugs in 1987. [3] Cohen-Kettenis collaborated with endocrinologists in Amsterdam, one of whom had experience prescribing gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs, which were relatively new at the time. At the time, gender dysphoric teenagers had to wait until they were of age for cross-sex hormones, but the team proposed that earlier interventions might benefit carefully selected minors.
In 1998, Cohen-Kettenis and Stefanie van Goozen published the first case study in which a trans boy (B) ("female-to-male transsexual") received puberty blockers. [4] Because a psychiatrist had previously diagnosed B with gender dysphoria, he decided to administer puberty blockers after consulting with a pediatric endocrinologist. [4] This gave B more time to explore his gender identity. At age thirteen, B was referred to the gender clinic for young people, then located in Utrecht. [4] After several conversations with both the trans boy and his parents, a multidisciplinary team decided to continue prescribing puberty blockers. [4] Finally, at age eighteen, B decided to start testosterone treatment. Some time later, B decided to have his breasts and ovaries removed. In a conversation after these interventions, it was indicated that B no longer had gender dysphoria. [4] The questionnaires also showed that there were no psychological, somatic, or personality problems. [4] Based on this case, Cohen-Kettenis and Van Goozen argued that puberty suppression could have physical and psychological benefits in the diagnosis and treatment of transgender adolescents. [4]
De Vries et al. (2011) published a cohort study of the first 140 adolescents who received puberty blockers and/or gender affirming hormones between 2000 and 2008. [5] The study group consisted of the first 70 adolescents who received puberty blockers: 33 transgender girls and 37 transgender boys. [5] All participants had experienced gender dysphoria since childhood, were supported by their environment, had no comorbidities that could influence the diagnosis, and had reached at least Tanner stage 2 or 3. [5]
The group was examined twice: shortly before starting puberty blockers and shortly before starting gender affirming hormone therapy. [5] Various questionnaires were used to measure IQ, emotional and behavioral problems, depressive symptoms, the intensity of anxiety and anger, general psychological functioning, gender dysphoria, and body satisfaction. [5] Comparing the two measurement points showed that adolescents had significantly fewer emotional and behavioral problems shortly before starting gender-affirming hormones than before starting puberty blockers. [5] The participants also had significantly fewer depressive symptoms and improved their general psychological functioning. [5] No significant improvement in anger, anxiety, or gender dysphoria was measured. [5] Because puberty suppression reduces the associated stress of gender dysphoria, De Vries et al. (2011) concluded that it offers a valuable opportunity to give adolescents time to consider their gender identity and any subsequent medical steps. [5]
In 1996 She published with Ray Blanchard and Kenneth Zucker stating that birth order has some influence over sexual orientation in androphilic trans women . [6]
By 2015 her research stated that some nonbinary people desire gender-affirming health care, including hormone replacement therapy or surgery. [7]