Original Investigation

Mental Health of Youths Who Use Puberty Blockers

JAMA Network Open 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.23302

July 17, 2026 at 11:00 AM EDT

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Are puberty blockers associated with lower odds of diagnosed mood disorders and suicidal thoughts and behaviors for transgender compared with cisgender youths?In this cohort study among 231 783 youths identified in claims data, prescription of a puberty blocker was associated with decreased adjusted odds of mood disorder and suicidal thoughts and behavior diagnoses for transgender youths compared with cisgender youths.In this study, puberty blocker prescription was associated with partial attenuation of mental health disparities for transgender youths, suggesting mental health benefits.

Corresponding Author: Hill L. Wolfe, PhD, MPA, Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College St, New Haven, CT 06510 (hill.wolfe@yale.edu).

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