Gender dysphoria "cured" by status epilepticus.

OBJECTIVE

A case is described pointing to the biological factors in gender identity and personality structure.

METHODS

The history is presented of a transsexual patient who experienced a change of gender identity and personality following an episode of status epilepticus.

RESULTS

The patient presented as convincingly feminine and with features of Borderline Personality Disorder. She had an old brain injury. After a prolonged epileptic episode the Borderline features disappeared and the patient expressed a clearly male identity.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings are equivocal: they may be seen both as reflecting a change in a neurologically structured identity and as a resetting of psychosocially acquired characteristics.