MMPI and Rorschach Characteristics of Individuals Approved for Gender Reassignment Surgery

Abstract

Results of past empirical studies utilizing the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the Rorschach Inkblot Test (Rorschach) have tended to be equivocal regarding the level and nature of psychopathology associated with samples of individuals requesting gender reassignment surgery. The present study compared the MMPI-2 basic scale T scores from a gender reassignment applicant sample (56 male-to-female transsexuals and 56 female-to-male transsexuals) to T scores obtained from a general psychiatric adult inpatient sample (n = 112) and T scores obtained from a normal adult sample (n = 112). The comparison groups were matched to the gender reassignment sample on the variables of biological gender and age. Rorschach data obtained from the gender reassignment sample were also compared to frequency data reported by Exner for normal, character disorder, and schizophrenic adults. Apart from a clinical range elevation on Scale 5, the gender reassignment candidates produced a normal range mean MMPI-2 profile. In contrast, the Rorschach findings suggested that reassignment candidates produce a high frequency of invalid protocols and manifest various psychological problems that are characteristic of individuals with personality disorders. These findings are discussed in terms of salient methodological and theoretical issues as well as promising directions for future research.