Psychosis With Religious Delusions in a Reportedly Intersex Transgender Person

Abstract

There is limited research on mental illness in intersex and transgender individuals. This case report describes psychosis in a self-identified intersex transgender individual with a past psychiatric history of schizoaffective disorder. The patient and collateral information reported colpocleisis as a newborn, was assigned and raised as a male, then transitioned to a female. When the patient discussed her experiences as a transgender person, she would become significantly more psychotic with disorganized speech and grandiose Christian delusions. A psychological assessment including a projective test was completed to better understand the patient’s psychotic symptoms along with her views of self, others, and the world. This case explores how the psychotic process interacts with gender dysphoria in a predominantly cisnormative, Christian society, with discussions of psychological defenses and psychodynamic theory.