The use of psychiatric medications and associated factors among people receiving care at a transgender outpatient clinic in Southern Brazil, 2021-2022

El uso de medicamentos psiquiátricos y factores asociados en personas atendidas en una clínica ambulatoria trans en el sur de Brasil, 2021-2022

Objective  To investigate the prevalence of psychiatric medication use and sociodemographic factors, including gender identity, age, race/skin color, education level, formal employment, and access to Primary Health Care (PHC) centers, among individuals receiving care at a transgender outpatient clinic in Southern Brazil.

Methods  : This was a cross-sectional study using administrative data from the information systems of the Municipal Health Department of Porto Alegre, the capital city of Rio Grande do Sul state, collected between 2021 and 2022.

Results  : This study analyzed 629 records of individuals who accessed the outpatient clinic and found a 29% prevalence (95%CI 25;32) of psychiatric medication use, with the most frequent class being psychoanaleptics (45%), especially fluoxetine (31%).

Conclusion  In addition to a trend toward mixed-race race/skin color and incomplete elementary school, transgender people aged 40 to 49 years and with access to a Primary Health Care center were more likely to use psychiatric medications.

Keywords
Transgender People; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Mental Health; Medication Use; Cross-Sectional Studies

Main results  Prevalence of 29% (95%CI 25;32) of psychiatric medication use was observed, with a higher likelihood among individuals aged 40 to 49 years, with access to primary healthcare centers. Low education level and mixed-race/skin color showed significant effect sizes. The most frequently dispensed drug class was psychoanaleptics (45%), with fluoxetine (31%) standing out.

Implications for services  This study can be replicated in other transgender outpatient clinics across Brazil and should contribute to broadening the discussion on mental healthcare for the transgender population.

Perspectives  The findings highlight the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to healthcare and underscore the need to assess the effectiveness of public mental health policies for the transgender population.