LSBTI and mental health: Facts and explanatory models

Authors

  • Martin Plöderl

Abstract

Summary: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals seem to be at increased risk for mental disorders and suicidality, as reported in numerous international studies. This paper gives an overview of the current empirical literature and discusses methodological challenges. The evidence for an increase of risk seems to be robust for lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals; data about transgender and intersex individuals are still rather sparse but hint at an increase of risk, too. Furthermore, this paper discusses current scientific explanatory models about the mental health of LGBTI individuals. These current models overcame old pathologizing views of LGBTI and focus on the impact of society’s homo-, bi-, trans-, and interphobia. The resulting different forms of minority stress that LGBTI individuals or those who are perceived as LGBTI are faced with can well explain the increased risk for mental disorders. Being aware of the mental health risk of LGBTI patients and underlying pathogenetic processes is important for psychotherapeutic practice.

Key words: mental disorder, health, suicide, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, homosexuality, transgender, intersex

Author Biography

Martin Plöderl

Martin Plöderl, Priv.-Doz. Dr., Klinischer Psychologe und Gesundheitspsychologe, Psychotherapeut (Logotherapie und Existenzanalytiker) am Universitätsinstitut für Klinische Psychologie und im Bereich Krisenintervention und Suizidprävention der Christian-Doppler-Klinik, Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität, Salzburg. Forschungsschwerpunkt Suizidalität bei sexuellen Minoritäten.

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Published

2016-12-29

How to Cite

Plöderl, M. (2016). LSBTI and mental health: Facts and explanatory models. Psychotherapie-Wissenschaft, 6(2), 140–151. Retrieved from https://psychotherapie-wissenschaft.info/article/view/257

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2016): Sexual variety - to the contact with various sexual identities in the psychotherapy

Section

Special Issue

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