In the early 80’s Dr Zoran Rakic, from the Department of Psychiatry? in Belgrade was a pioneer in transgender care in Serbia and former Yugoslavia. Occasionally he used to hospitalize transsexual patients for diagnostic assessment, treatment of comorbid and concomitant psychiatric disorders and post-surgical care. His pioneer work was continued by the Counseling Service for Sexual Disfunction and Gender Dysphoria team.

To assess frequency, indication for and results of inpatient treatment of transsexual clients.

Case history review and outpatient follow-up.

During last 3 years hospitalization was performed in 16 cases (50% F?M and M?F). Mean age on admission was 23.1 for F?M and 27.5 for M?F patients. Assessment of transsexualism was performed in 3 F?M clients; 62.5% (10) were admitted for assessment and treatment of comorbid disorder (7 M?F and 2 F?M before and 1 M?F patient after gender reassignment surgery) with only one currently not in remission; physical assessment was performed in 3 F?M clients before referral for hormone therapy (financial reasons).

Transsexual individuals are exposed to double stigmatization, as members of the LGBT community and as „psychiatric patients'. Therefore inpatient psychiatric assessment and treatment should be avoided. Results of our clinical work show that inpatient care can be beneficial for these patients and accelerate further treatment process especially in cases with comorbid and concomitant psychiatric disorder when adequate setting is provided and medical staff are educated and sensitized to address specific needs of this population.