HOMOSEXUALITY AND MENTAL HEALTH  PROBLEMS

Summary: Recent studies show that homosexuals have a
substantially greater risk of developing psychiatric problems that
heterosexual. We see higher rates of suicide, depression, bulimia,
antisocial personality disorder and substance abuse. This Article
highlights some new and significant considerations thought-provoking
on the question of those mental illnesses and their possible sources.
The American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list
diagnoses of mental disorders in 1973, despite protest
substantial (see Socarides, 1995). The A.P.A. was strongly motivated by
the desire to reduce the effects of social oppression. However, a
consequence of the action of the A.P.A. was added to the psychiatric authority
insistence that homosexuals as a group are as healthy as
heterosexual. This has not encouraged the publication of research
suggest there is indeed associated with psychiatric problems
homosexuality.
In a literature review, Gonsiorek (1982) stated that there was
data showing differences between gay and straight, or if there were any,
could be attributed to a social stigma. Similarly, Ross (1988) in
intercultural study found that most gays were on level
normal psychological. However, some papers indications
psychiatric differences between homosexuals and heterosexuals. A study
(Riess, 1980) used the MMPI, the psychological scale venerable and well validated, and
found that homosexuals showed "emotional oversensitivity
personnel "defined.
In 1991 the absolute equality of homosexuality and heterosexuality
was strongly advocated in a paper entitled "The empirical basis for the
Sundown Mental Illness Model "(Gonsiorek, 1991). But it was not until
1992 when homosexuality was removed from the psychiatric manual used by
other nations, the International Classification of Diseases (King and
Bartlett, 1999) - well, it seems the rest of the world doubted the decision of the APA
1973 for nearly two decades.
Is homosexuality as healthy as heterosexuality? For
answer that question, what is needed are representative samples of
homosexual people to examine their mental health, as no samples
volunteers who, in the past, have selected or any messy subject
atypical gender (as in the famous study by Evelyn Hooker). And
Fortunately, these representative studies have become valid
later.
New studies suggest a higher level of
PATHOLOGY.