Transition dreams: a preliminary study on dreams during the gender affirming pathway

Introduction: Our dream world is an expression of our own identity and mirrors of our emotional universe. In a phase marked by significant and substantial physical and identity changes, such as the gender affirming journey, the exploratory analysis of dreams can yield valuable insights into the inner world of individuals undergoing a gender transition. Methods: A sample of approximately 20 people who are in the initial six months of gender affirming therapy will be recruited. Each week, for a period of six months, participants will be asked to transcribe and submit one or two dreams they had during the past seven days, attaching a space where they can add information about the dream. In addition, an initial battery will be proposed to collect data on gender dysphoria (Body and Social Gender Dysphoria Scale), dream world quality (Mannheim Dream questionnaire) and identity (Inventory of Personality Organisation). The MADRE and BSGD questionnaires will be administered once more at the third month and at the sixth month, respectively. Expected results: Thematic analysis of dream transcripts will be utilized to investigate the effects of transition on participants' dream world, with a particular emphasis on thematic and emotional content. The evolution of gender themes, changes in the emotional tone of dreams experienced on hormone therapy and non-hormone therapy days, and the bodily and identity representation of the dreaming self will be explored. Discussion: Through the analysis of thematic and emotional shifts in dreams, the study seeks to provide more profound insights into psychological adaptation during the transition process, with the objective of enhancing clinical understanding and facilitating the development of effective therapeutic interventions for transgender individuals.