Psychological findings in early treated cases of female pseudohermaphroditism caused by virilizing congenital adrenal hyperplasia. 1987

A L Hurtig, and I M Rosenthal

Nine female adolescents with female pseudohermaphroditism resulting from virilizing congenital adrenocortical hyperplasia (CAH) were studied in terms of gender identity, sex-role behavior, psychological adjustment, and psychosexual development. A group of adolescents with chronic illness was used as a control. The Draw-A-Person, the Bem Sex-Role Inventory, Rorschach, TAT, and a questionnaire reviewing peer and romantic activities were administered to both groups. The two groups were comparable on measures of general personality adjustment, with the CAH girls showing a trend toward greater bodily concerns. Sex-role identity for both groups was near the adolescent girl norms for both Femininity and Masculinity, with virilized CAH girls showing slightly higher Androgyny scores. Significant differences were found on gender identity as measured by greater differentiation of the drawn male figure as well as a trend toward drawing the male figure first. The CAH females also showed consistent patterns of psychosocial delay in dating and sexual relations as compared to the control group. Gender identity in this group appears to be mediated by body image. The resulting ambivalence may be evidence of feelings of incompetence, leading to resistance to social interactions and goals involving intimacy and nurturance.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007062 Identification, Psychological A process by which an individual unconsciously endeavors to pattern himself after another. This process is also important in the development of the personality, particularly the superego or conscience, which is modeled largely on the behavior of adult significant others. Identification (Psychology),Identification, Psychology,Identifications (Psychology),Identifications, Psychological,Identifications, Psychology,Psychological Identification,Psychological Identifications,Psychology Identification,Psychology Identifications
D011386 Projective Techniques Techniques to reveal personality attributes by responses to relatively unstructured or ambiguous stimuli. Picture Frustration Study,Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Study,Szondi Test,Projective Technics,Psychodynamic Assessment,Psychosomatic Assessment,Rosenzweig Picture Frustration Study,Assessment, Psychodynamic,Assessment, Psychosomatic,Assessments, Psychodynamic,Assessments, Psychosomatic,Frustration Study, Picture,Projective Technic,Projective Technique,Psychodynamic Assessments,Psychosomatic Assessments,Study, Picture Frustration,Study, Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration,Technic, Projective,Technics, Projective,Technique, Projective,Techniques, Projective,Test, Szondi
D001828 Body Image Individuals' concept of their own bodies. Body Identity,Body Representation,Body Schema,Body Images,Body Representations,Body Schemas,Identity, Body,Image, Body,Representation, Body,Schema, Body
D005260 Female Females
D005783 Gender Identity A person's concept of self as being male and masculine or female and feminine, or ambivalent, based in part on physical characteristics, parental responses, and psychological and social pressures. It is the internal experience of gender role. Gender,Gender Identities,Identity, Gender
D006040 Goals The end-result or objective, which may be specified or required in advance. Goal
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000312 Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital A group of inherited disorders of the ADRENAL GLANDS, caused by enzyme defects in the synthesis of cortisol (HYDROCORTISONE) and/or ALDOSTERONE leading to accumulation of precursors for ANDROGENS. Depending on the hormone imbalance, congenital adrenal hyperplasia can be classified as salt-wasting, hypertensive, virilizing, or feminizing. Defects in STEROID 21-HYDROXYLASE; STEROID 11-BETA-HYDROXYLASE; STEROID 17-ALPHA-HYDROXYLASE; 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3-HYDROXYSTEROID DEHYDROGENASES); TESTOSTERONE 5-ALPHA-REDUCTASE; or steroidogenic acute regulatory protein; among others, underlie these disorders. Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia,Hyperplasia, Congenital Adrenal,Adrenal Hyperplasias, Congenital,Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasias,Hyperplasias, Congenital Adrenal
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

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