Author:
Chakraborty Apu,McManus Sally,Brugha Terry S.,Bebbington Paul,King Michael
Abstract
BackgroundThere has been little research into the prevalence of mental health
problems in lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people in the UK with most
work conducted in the USA.AimsTo relate the prevalence of mental disorder, self-harm and suicide
attempts to sexual orientation in England, and to test whether
psychiatric problems were associated with discrimination on grounds of
sexuality.MethodThe Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007 (n = 7403)
was representative of the population living in private UK households.
Standardised questions provided demographic information. Neurotic
symptoms, common mental disorders, probable psychosis, suicidality,
alcohol and drug dependence and service utilisation were assessed. In
addition, detailed information was obtained about aspects of sexual
identity and perceived discrimination on these grounds.ResultsSelf-reported identification as non-heterosexual (determined by both
orientation and sexual partnership, separately) was associated with
unhappiness, neurotic disorders overall, depressive episodes, generalised
anxiety disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, phobic disorder,
probable psychosis, suicidal thoughts and acts, self-harm and alcohol and
drug dependence. Mental health-related general practitioner consultations
and community care service use over the previous year were also elevated.
In the non-heterosexual group, discrimination on the grounds of sexual
orientation predicted certain neurotic disorder outcomes, even after
adjustment for potentially confounding demographic variables.ConclusionsThis study corroborates international findings that people of
non-heterosexual orientation report elevated levels of mental health
problems and service usage, and it lends further support to the
suggestion that perceived discrimination may act as a social stressor in
the genesis of mental health problems in this population.
Publisher
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health
Cited by
208 articles.
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