Psychological Reviews

Gay Prevalence: 1.7 Percent of the 18-and-over U.S. Population Identify as Gay

2011-06-20T18:45:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO — Gary Gates, a demographer-in-residence at the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy, a think tank based at the University of California, Los Angeles has a new estimate of the percentage of adults who identify as being gay or lesbian.

Gates’ best estimate, derived from five studies that have asked subjects about their sexual orientation, is that the nation has about 4 million adults who identify as being gay or lesbian, representing 1.7 percent of the 18-and-over population.

This subject has been debated since sex researcher Alfred Kinsey said in the 1940s that 10 percent of the men he surveyed were “predominantly homosexual.” Later, a much respected University of Chicago study estimated the figure to be closer to the 3 to 5 percent and that oft cited figure has been the conventional wisdom in the last two decades.

One reason a better estimate has been difficult to judge , according to Gates, is that until recently, few surveys attempted to differentiate respondents who identified as gay or lesbian from those who sometimes engaged in homosexual acts or were attracted to people of the same sex. All were lumped into the gay category. Gates found, for example, that another 1.8 percent of the adult population, or a little more than 4 million Americans, identifies as bisexual, according to his research brief published last Thursday by the Williams Institute.

He also estimated that 19 million people, or 8.2 percent of the population, have engaged in sex with a partner of the same sex. That includes all groups, such as gays, bisexuals and heterosexuals who have experimented with same-sex behavior.

Another two studies, conducted by state agencies in California and Massachusetts, yielded what Gates thinks is the first credible estimate of the nation’s transgender population. He puts it at about 700,000 adults, or 0.3 percent of the population.

Facts and Myths on Early Aversion Techniques in the Treatment of Unwanted Homosexual Attractions

2011-06-20T18:08:00.000-07:00

From an orginal article by:
A. Dean Byrd, Ph.D., MBA, MPH
James E. Phelan, LCSW, Psy.D.

Abstract

Aversion techniques are no longer used to treat unwanted homosexual attractions, yet many myths concerning such practices still exist. Beginning in the late 1960’s at several academic institutions, clinical aversive techniques were experimentally introduced as part of the curriculum and investigation of evolving aversive procedures, which were applied to a variety of conditions, including unwanted homosexual attractions (McBride, 1976; Rachman & Teasdale, 1969). Since their introduction, these techniques were the object of varying media coverage. Primarily for public consumption, many of the media reports contained significant misinformation and serious inaccuracies regarding aversive techniques and their uses.

This paper is an attempt to provide accurate information about the use of aversive techniques in general, to address some of the myths associated with aversive techniques, and to provide a more accurate description and assessment of what did and did not occur during the period in which aversive techniques were applied to a variety of client symptoms, including unwanted homosexuality.

Full article: HERE

Psychological Jobs of the Future

2010-04-09T11:31:00.000-07:00

Lunar base psychologist (presence on the moon not required)

Living for six months on the ISS is one thing. You are a Soyuz escape pod away from home. But, living on the moon will be a completely different experience. If we have regular flights up to lunar orbit, then you are at least three days away from being back under blue skies. And living in a desolate environment like the Moon could have an adverse psychological impact (studies are underway). Being that far away may give people thoughts of seceding from Earth.

Mars colony psychologist

If you think living on the moon is difficult, try living on Mars for two years, with little to no chance of rescue if things go bad. Add in the 11 minute communication delay and one word sums up your experience: isolated. Our Russian and European friends are already experimenting with extremely long-term disconnectedness (see Mars500). In addition to helping maintain the mental health of any Martian exploration group, a thorough psych exam will be a part of any team-selection process.

Source

Physicians Caution Educators on Dealing with Sexual Orientation and Gender Confusion

2010-04-06T17:17:00.000-07:00

The American College of Pediatricians cautions educators about the management of students experiencing same-sex attraction or exhibiting symptoms of gender confusion. These concerns are outlined in a letter and fact sheet sent by College president Thomas Benton, MD, to all 14, 800 school district superintendents in the U.S. Dr. Benton also alerts them to a new Web resource, FactsAboutYouth.com, which was created by a coalition of health professionals to provide factual information to educators, parents, and students about sexual development.

“As pediatricians, our primary interest is in the health and well-being of children and youth,” Dr. Den Trumbull, Vice President of the College explains. “We are increasingly concerned that in too many instances, misinformation or incorrect assumptions are guiding well-intentioned educators to adopt policies that are actually harmful to those youth dealing with sexual confusion.”

The College reminds school superintendents that it is not uncommon for adolescents to experience transient confusion about their sexual orientation and that most students will ultimately adopt a heterosexual orientation if not otherwise encouraged. For this reason, schools should not seek to develop policy which “affirms” or encourages these non-heterosexual attractions among students who may merely be experimenting or experiencing temporary sexual confusion. Such premature labeling can lead some adolescents to engage in homosexual behaviors that carry serious physical and mental health risks.

There is no scientific evidence that anyone is born gay or transgendered. Therefore, the College further advises that schools should not teach or imply to students that homosexual attraction is innate, always life-long and unchangeable. Research has shown that therapy to restore heterosexual attraction can be effective for many people.

Optimal health and respect for all students can only be achieved within a school by first respecting the rights of students and parents to accurate information and to self-determination. It is the school’s legitimate role to provide a safe environment for respectful self-expression for all students. It is not the school’s role to diagnose or attempt to treat any student’s medical condition, and certainly not the school’s role to “affirm” a student’s perceived personal sexual orientation.

The American College of Pediatricians is a national organization of pediatricians and other healthcare professionals dedicated to the health and well-being of children. The College produces sound policy, based upon the best available research, to assist parents and to influence society in the endeavor of childrearing.

Article Review: Sexual orientation and psychiatric vulnerability: A twin study of neuroticism and psychoticism

2009-12-31T16:21:00.000-08:00

A Review of: Zietsch, B. P, Verweij, K. J. H., Bailey, J. M., Wright, M. J., & Martin, N. G. (2009). Sexual orientation and psychiatric vulnerability: A twin study of neuroticism and psychoticism. Archives of Sexual Behavior, (published online: 09 July 2009, Springer Publications)

Zietsch, Verweij, Bailey, Wright, and Martin (2009) identify themselves as from the Genetic Epidemiology department of The Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Australia, although J. M. Bailey is from Northwestern University in the United States, and no stranger to the study of sexual orientation and genetics. The authors note that from studying the literature, homosexuals and bisexuals on average, are at greater risk for psychiatric problems than heterosexuals.

The current study was done in an effort to find out what mechanisms (e.g. "minority stress," environmental factors, and/or genetic factors) might likely elevate the psychiatric vulnerability of nonheterosexuals. In conducting their literature review, some support was found for a "minority stress" hypothesis, however such support was weakened by the fact that the relationship between sexual orientation and mental health is strong even in socially liberal countries, such as the Netherlands.

To test what mechanism(s) might likely contribute to the psychiatric vulnerabilities of nonheterosexuals, standardized instruments measuring neuroticism and psychoticism were used as estimates of these two broad types of psychiatric vulnerability. Researchers used a classical twin design, where variance in traits, and covariance between them were partitioned into genetic and environmental sources. The sample compared heterosexuals with nonheterosexuals in a community-based (Australian) sample of identical (monozygotic; MZ) and nonidentical (dizygotic; DZ) twins for a total sample size of 4904. These were the same subjects, recruited in 1992, and previously used in a study by Bailey, Dunne, and Martin (2000) (B. P. Zietsch, personal communication, July 23, 2009). Bailey and Martin also contributed to the current study.

The researchers found that scores on both Neuroticism and Psychoticism scales (e.g. Eysenck Personality Questionnaire [EPQ-R]) were significantly elevated in nonheterosexuals compared with heterosexuals, indicating greater vulnerability to neurotic and psychotic disorders, respectively. Secondly, researchers claim that analyses with the genetically informative sample revealed significant genetic correlations (e.g. age, sex, zygosity) between sexual orientation and both Neuroticism and Psychoticism, but corresponding environmental correlations were not significant. This suggested to the authors that some of the genetic variation underlying sexual orientation also affects levels of Neuroticism and Psychoticism. Low opposite-sex pair (genetic) correlation in sexual orientation suggested that "different factors may influence sexual orientation in males and females."

Zietsch, et al., conjecture that it was unlikely that an environmental factor, such as childhood sexual abuse, drives the elevated psychiatric risk in nonheterosexuals by predisposing them to both nonheterosexuality and elevated psychiatric vulnerability. However, unknown non-genetic (environmental) factors not shared between twin pairs, along with measurement error, accounted for over 50% of the variance in sexual orientation.

The authors suggest that these factors could include prenatal effects, idiosyncratic experiences, unequal parental treatment, interactions with siblings, or influences outside the family (e.g., teachers and peers). They go on to suggest that, whatever the specific environmental factors were, they seemed not to overlap much at the population level with the environmental factors underlying Neuroticism or Psychoticism levels, given the very low environmental correlations found. The authors admit that this does not discount the possibility that, in individual cases, an environmental influence during development could lead to a nonheterosexual orientation as well as psychiatric vulnerability.

The authors -- unable to give a definitive answer to whether or not homosexuality is genetically caused -- made a plea that further research be conducted, and stated that if there is a biological correlate of both sexual orientation and psychiatric vulnerability, it might be more clearly observed in brain imaging research.

The authors state clearly,

The finding in our data of genetic correlations between sexual orientation and psychiatric vulnerability should be interpreted with caution, as it does not necessitate that pleiotropic genetic factors are at work. Other causal relationships could also manifest as genetic correlation between sexual orientation and psychiatric vulnerability. It is likely that there are several contributing factors to the elevated psychiatric risk in nonheterosexuals, genetics being one of these factors.

"Caution" indeed. Another key word they used is "likely," but in reality, their estimate of "likelihood" is not definitive. Even those correlates that were discovered (e.g. gender nonconformity), do not explain a genetic basis in totality, as environmental factors also have been observed in some cases (Zucker & Bradley, 1995).

If noncommon environmental factors accounted for more than 50%, and the genetic factors were less, than this in itself shows that the genetic contribution was not 100% and therefore cannot give a "definitive yes" answer to the question "Are people born gay?" Erratic, noncommon (i.e., idiosyncratic) environmental factors are predominant, and this finding is significant.
It should also be pointed out that the finding of elevated psychoticism done in such a standard way is almost unique in the modern literature. Although historically it has been clear that some elements of psychoticism have been associated with various subpopulations of homosexually oriented people, older studies lack the rigor of the current paper. While it is more common to find older papers reporting neurotic aspects of homosexually oriented people, this current paper uses a more general client population and is better controlled methodologically.

The Journal of Human Sexuality (2009), explored the extensive evidence for increased neuroticism among homosexually oriented people. The Zietsch et al. paper is important in that it adds psychoticism as well as neuroticism (in the particular meaning given both terms by the EPQ-R and others) to the surprisingly long list of ills experienced by homosexually oriented people to a significantly greater extent than heterosexuals.

References:

Bailey, J. M., Dunne, M. P., & Martin, N. (2000). Genetic and environmental influences on sexual orientation and its correlates in an Australian twin sample. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(3), 524-536.

National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) Scientific Advisory Committee (2009). What research shows: NARTH's response to the American Psychological Association's (APA) claims on homosexuality. Journal of Human Sexuality, 1, 1-128.

Zietsch, B. P, Verweij, K. J. H., Bailey, J. M., Wright, M. J., & Martin, N. G. (2009). Sexual orientation and psychiatric vulnerability: A twin study of neuroticism and psychoticism. Archives of Sexual Behavior, (published online: 09 July 2009, Springer Publications)

Zucker, K. J., & Bradley, S. J. (1995). Gender identity disorder and psychosexual problems in children and adolescents. New York: The Guilford Press.

2009 CDC HIV Conference: Gay Men and other MSMs Have AIDS 50 Times Greater than Others

2009-09-02T05:44:00.000-07:00

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) official Dr. Amy Lansky announced at a plenary session of the 2009 National HIV Prevention Conference (Aug 23-26, Atlanta) the CDC's finding that, in the United States, gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) have AIDS at a rate more than 50 times greater than women and non-gay/bi men. This confirms in emphatic terms that of all the disparities and disproportionate impacts in the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States, the greatest one is the extraordinarily disproportionate impact on gay and bisexual men -- of all races and ethnicities-- though the most disproportionate impact is on African American gay, bi and other MSM. As incidence estimates released by CDC last year revealed, MSM constitute more than half of all new cases of HIV and are the group in which the number of new cases each continues to slowly increase. What's new today is that the CDC has calculated *rates* of HIV/AIDS prevalence among MSM, not just raw numbers. Lansky says the CDC estimates that there were 692.2 new HIV cases in 2007 per 100,000 MSM. Having a rate as well as the raw numbers allows comparisons for the first time to other population groups at risk, such as women and heterosexual men.

CDC Report on AIDS Cases by Transmission Category HERE

Induced Abortions Increase Risk of Preterm Births

2008-12-30T18:25:00.000-08:00

A recent article in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons concludes that the increased rate of preterm birth (PTB) has a serious adverse effect on children’s health, with a disparate impact on black children. There is substantial evidence that induced abortion (IA) is an important risk factor for PTB. (FULL ARTICLE HERE)

Reference:

Roonet et al (2008). Does Induced Abortion Account for Racial Disparity in Preterm Births, and Violate the Nuremberg Code? J. of Am. Physicians and Surgs, 13(4), 102-104.

Correlations Between Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

2008-04-08T09:59:00.000-07:00

Review of Two Recent Studies on Correlations between Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation.

1. Drummond, K. D., Bradley, S. J., Peterson-Badali, M., & Zucker, K. J. (2008). A follow-up study of girls with gender identity disorder. Developmental Psychology. 44(1), 34-45.

A panel of experts infamous for treating gender identity disorder (GID) have recently released data of their longitudinal follow-up with 25 girls who had been diagnosed as gender identity disorder (GID). Standardized assessment data in childhood (mean age, 8.88 years; range, 3-12 years) and at follow-up (mean age, 23.24 years; range, 15-36 years) were used to evaluate gender identity and sexual orientation. At the assessment in childhood, 60% of the girls met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria for GID, and 40% were subthreshold for the diagnosis. At follow-up, 3 participants (12%) were judged to have GID or gender dysphoria. Regarding sexual orientation, 8 participants (32%) were classified as bisexual/ homosexual in fantasy, and 6 (24%) were classified as bisexual/homosexual in behavior. The remaining participants were classified as either heterosexual or asexual. The rates of GID persistence and bisexual/homosexual sexual orientation were substantially higher than base rates in the general female population derived from epidemiological or survey studies. There was some evidence of a "dosage" effect, with girls who were more cross-sex typed in their childhood behavior more likely to be gender dysphoric at follow-up and more likely to have been classified as bisexual/homosexual in behavior (but not in fantasy).

2. Rieger, G., Linsenmeier, J. A. W., Gygax, L., & Bailey, J. M. (2008). Sexual orientation and childhood gender nonconformity: Evidence from home videos. Developmental Psychology. 44(1), 46-58.

This interesting study asserted that homosexual adults tend to be more gender nonconforming than heterosexual adults in some of their behaviors, feelings, and interests. Retrospective studies have also shown large differences in childhood gender nonconformity, but these studies have been criticized for possible memory biases. The authors studied an indicator of childhood gender nonconformity not subject to such biases: childhood home videos. They recruited homosesual and heterosexual men and women (targets) with videos from their childhood and subsequently asked heterosexual and homosexual raters to judge the gender nonconformity of the targets from both the childhood videos and adult videos made for the study. Prehomosexual children were judged more gender nonconforming, on average, than preheterosexual children, and this pattern obtained for both men and women. This difference emerged early, carried into adulthood, and was consistent with self-report. In addition, targets who were more gender nonconforming tended to recall more childhood rejection.

See also: “Gender Identity Disorders In Childhood And Adolescence: A Critical Inquiry And Review Of The Kenneth Zucker Research” http://www.narth.com/docs/GIDReviewKenZucker.pdf

Father’ Involvement and Children’s Developmental Outcomes

2008-04-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

Review of study:

Sarkadi, A., Kristiansson, R., Oberklaid, F., & Bremberg, S. (2008). Father’ involvement and children’s developmental outcomes: A systemic review of longitudinal studies. Acta Paediatrica, 97, 153-158.

The authors conducted a systematic review looking at longitudinal evidence on the effects of father involvement on children’s developmental outcomes. Databases were searched for studies that measured the involvement of fathers over time. Out of 22 of the 24 studies found, positive effects of father involvement were described. In conclusion, it was determined that active and regular engagement of the father with the child predicted a range of positive outcomes. That proved true in terms of social, behavioral, psychological, and cognitive development. Interestingly, no specific form of engagement was shown to yield a better outcome over another. This said that it didn’t matter specifically, what the father did with the child, rather the fact that he was engaged paid huge dividends in the child’s development. The authors concluded that father engagement reduced the frequency of behavioral problems in boys and psychological problems in young girls. It also decreased criminality and economic disadvantages. Rightly so, the authors made claim that there was enough support in the literature to urge both professionals and policy makers to improve circumstances for involving fathering.

Review of Research Paper: "Using to numb the pain: substance use and abuse among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals."

2008-02-20T07:10:00.000-08:00

Review of Research Paper: "Using to numb the pain: substance use and abuse among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals." Published in Journal of Mental Health Counseling, Jan 2008, Vol 30 # 1, pp. 31-48; Author: Weber, Genevieve N.

Genevieve Weber's research was based on a sample of 824 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals, although 3% of her sample were "transgendered" and 1% were "other". The sample was recruited via advertisements to LGB listservs and posters placed in the LGB community. Nineteen percent came through emails "from friends". The analyses consisted of the use of four separate scales.

The major finding in the study was that participants who were classified as having at least one substance use disorder reported experiencing heterosexism and internalized homophobia more often than those who are not classified as disordered on either the alcohol or drug abuse scale. Interesting to note however, was what the author said subsequent to this finding:

Although these relationships are significantly significant, their small effect sizes limit my confidence that participants who are classified as having at least one substance use disorder have, in fact, experienced more heterosexism and internalized homophobia. In this case, statistical significance may not necessarily mean that the findings have practical or clinical significance to the field of mental health counseling. To this end, interpret the following discussion points with caution. (p. 40)

Much discussion was placed on the notion that sexual minorities experience stress from being in a predominately anti-gay society. However, this study could not support whether or not that heterosexist events and/or internalized homophobia led the LGB subgroup to use or abuse substances.

The author, not able to make any conclusive outcome about what causes the high incidence of substance use/abuse among gays and lesbians, stated that, "There is much that remains unknown about the etiology of alcohol and drug use and abuse among LGB people" (p. 44).

Concluding, in a practical sense, the author made a case that in her opinion, counselors and educators need to increase their awareness of how LGB individuals might cope with minority stress.

Limitations of the study:

1. The sample was recruited from an internet survey from LGB resources only; therefore, it lacked the diversity of methods for which strong research designs require.

2. The use of self-reported measures provided the strong possibility for participants to be influenced by social desirability. The general profile of these recruits were that they were largely "out", thirty-something, educated, and savvy about LGB resources (well read), therefore it made sense that they would value having an explanation, such as heterosexism, to account for the high incidences of substance use/abuse within their population.

Vox Popoli: The Failure of Scientody

2008-02-01T19:16:00.000-08:00

The failure of scientody
The profession is demonstrating its corruption through its refusal to make use of the method:

In today’s political climate, it has become fairly dangerous for a young scientist or professor to step up and say: ‘This is all nonsense.’ It is increasingly difficult to challenge the global warming consensus, on either a scientific or a political level. Academies can be incredibly cowardly institutions, and if one of their employees was to question the discussion of climate change he or she would be pulled to one side and told: ‘You’re threatening our funding and reputation - do you really want to do that?’ I don’t think we should underestimate the impact that kind of informal pressure can have on people’s willingness to think thoroughly and speak openly.One way in which critics are silenced is through the accusation that they are ignoring ‘peer-reviewed science’. Yet oftentimes, peer review is a nonsense. As anyone who has ever put his nose inside a university will know, peer review is usually a mode of excluding the unexpected, the unpredictable and the unrespectable, and forming a mutually back-scratching circle. The history of peer review and how it developed is not a pretty sight. Through the process of peer review, of certain papers being nodded through by experts and other papers being given a red cross, the controllers of the major scientific journals can include what they like and exclude what they don’t like. Peer review is frequently a way of controlling debate, even curtailing it. Many people who fall back on peer-reviewed science seem afraid to have out the intellectual argument.

While I have tremendous regard for the effectiveness of the scientific method, I have very, very little respect for scientists. They are very, very far from the impartial devotees of scientody that they so love to portray themselves being. With a few notable exceptions, they are cowardly, contemptible herd animals more interested in jousting for a better position among the herd hierarchy than advancing the state of human knowledge.There have never been more scientists accomplishing less of scientific value than at any point in the scientific era. As for global warming, scientists of the future will look back on it in much the same way scientists today view phrenology, even as they attempt to push their latest non-scientific nonsense on the rest of us.

From: http://voxday.blogspot.com/

Drug-Resistant Staph Appearing Heavily Among Homosexually Active Men in Boston and San Francisco

2008-01-17T05:59:00.000-08:00

A highly drug-resistant strain of MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as drug-resistant staph) is appearing among men who have sex with men (MSM) in San Francisco and Boston, researchers reported this week. A study of hospitals and clinics in those cities found that a strain of MRSA resistant to many of the antibiotics used to treat the infection is 13 times more common among MSM in San Francisco than in the rest of the city's population, and notably more common among people with HIV.

Click here to read the article in the February 19, 2008 edition of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Warren Throckmorton Posts News Release: Sexual Identity Therapy Framework to be Reviewed.

2008-01-09T19:10:00.000-08:00

News Release

Sexual Identity Therapy Framework to Be Reviewed

The Sexual Identity Therapy Framework, authored by Warren Throckmorton and Mark Yarhouse, will be reviewed in 2008 for possible revision. Proposed as a means to help counselors work with clients who experience value conflict surrounding homosexual attractions, the Framework is endorsed by Nicholas Cummings, the father of managed behavioral healthcare and Robert Spitzer, the architect of modern psychiatric diagnosis. The framework respects diversity of sexual orientation and religious practice and anticipates a planned review of sexual orientation counseling which will be reported by the American Psychological Association in 2008.

“We believe this area of counseling practice is changing rapidly and we want to be sensitive to how therapists and consumers of sexual identity therapy feel the framework helps or hinder excellent outcomes. We want to hear from professionals and consumers alike,” said Dr. Throckmorton.

The authors are asking for public and professional comment on the Framework though the end of February, 2008.

Interested persons can download and review the Framework at http://www.sexualidentity.blogspot.com. One may leave comment there or send extended comments to Warren Throckmorton at ewthrockmorton@gcc.edu and/or Mark Yarhouse at markyar@regent.edu. Therapists interested in a registry of therapists who adhere to the Framework should visit, http://www.sexualidentityinstitute.org.

Selected endorsements:

I have reviewed the sexual identity framework written by Warren Throckmorton and Mark Yarhouse. This framework provides a very necessary outline to help therapists address the important concerns of clients who are in conflict over their homosexual attractions. The work of Drs. Throckmorton and Yarhouse transcend polarized debates about whether gays can change their sexual orientation. Rather, this framework helps therapists work with clients to craft solutions tailored to their individual situations and personal beliefs and values. I support this framework and hope it is widely implemented.

Robert L. Spitzer, M.D., is Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City, NY. Dr. Spitzer was Chairman of the committee that developed the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental and Emotional Disorders, 3rd Edition and 3rd Edition (Revised).

Drs. Throckmorton and Yarhouse have brilliantly resolved contention in psychotherapy by providing the field with unbiased guidelines that are responsive to scientific evidence, are sensitive to professional practice, and which restore patient determination in choosing his/her goals in psychotherapy.

Dr. Nicholas Cummings, PhD, ScD is Distinguished Chair in Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno. Dr. Cummings is the President of the Foundation for Behavioral Health and Chairman of the Nicholas & Dorothy Cummings Foundation, Inc. He was the founding CEO of American Biodyne (now Magellan Behavioral Care). He is also the former President of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Cummings was the founder of the four campuses of the California School of Professional Psychology, the National Academies of Practice, and the American Managed Behavioral Healthcare Association. He was the former Executive Director of the Mental Research Institute. Dr. Cummings is the co-editor with Rogers Wright of Destructive Trends in Mental Health.

One point Dr Throckmorton is considering is to discourage referral to NWTA www.mkp.org and I-groups as a means of changing orientation. While no outcome studies have been done on this point, it seems clear that such referrals do nothing on average to change orientation. He welcomes feedback and suggestions www.wthrockmorton.com

Topic of Erotic Transference to be Addressed at Symposium

2008-01-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

How can erotic forces be used productively in analysis to further a patient's capacity to be appropriately loved and loving in the real world?

Answers to this and many more intriguing questions about erotic transference will be addressed at the Symposium 2008: Responding to the Erotic Transference March 8th and 9th, 2008 Mount Sinai Medical Center 100th Street and Madison Avenue in New York City. Click Here to Read: The Complete Symposium 2008 Brochure.

I plan to do a summary in a future post here.

What has been concluded from 1000 recent articles on Homosexuality?

2007-12-29T19:10:00.000-08:00

John R. Hughes, of the University of Illinois Medical Center reviewed the most recent 1000 Medline searched articles on male homosexuality and lesbianism, up until the time of publication of his article in the 2006 Winter issue of Sexuality and Disability http://www.springer.com/west/home/psychology?SGWID=4-10126-70-35748469-0.

Etiology

After reviewing the studies on biology and social factors, Hughes concluded:

Thus, some individuals develop homosexuality presumably from earlier sexual abuse. As in nearly all diseases/disorders, both physical (genetic) and psychological (environmental) factors may play a role in varying amounts in particular individuals. One gay male may have definite feminine characteristics that would play a role in his sexual orientation, while another gay male with prominent masculine secondary sex characteristics may have in his history environmental factors to account for his homosexuality.(p. 197)

Prevalence

After looking at the recent reports which indicated sexual orientation prevalence, Hughes stated: "In summary, the prevalence of homosexuality is 3-5%, likely 2-4% for lesbians, and 3% for bisexuality, although exceptions can be found in particular groups or countries" (p. 197).

Related Diseases

HIV

Hughes found that the cases of HIV+ in the 1980s that were homosexual were usually around 75%. As of 2005, he noted that "the value in number of HIV+ patients who were gay were reported as 61% although the prevalence depend[ed] on the country involved with the sampling" (p. 198).

Syphilis and other venereal diseases

Hughes found that for gay men, beyond HIV, syphilis, genito-urinary infections and anal carcinomas were significant. Bacterial vaginosis, cerebral vascular disease, polycystic ovaries, and androgehypernism were higher in lesbians than heterosexual women.

Characteristics as a subgroup

Drug and alcohol

As a subgroup, 50% of gays admit to illicit drug use. Lesbians spent more time in bars and drank more alcohol than heterosexual females.

Unprotected anal sex

The hallmark finding was that 50-60% of male homosexuals have engaged in unprotected anal sex and 21% report never using a condom.

Casual partners

Consistency in studies show casual partnering increasing, not decreasing (which might be expected considering there is an increase in society acceptance of homosexuals), as evidenced in reports about weekend resorts, public sex environments, bath houses, e-dating, and circuit parties.

Other characteristics

Suicidation, molestation, and violence were other factors found to be disproportionately higher in the homosexual subgroup.

Fluidity or "Change in sexual orientation over time"

Hughes noted, which I found particularly interesting, that pediatric reports indicated that there appears to be some degree of conditioning and choice in sexual orientation, that it is not necessarily a fixed state. Hughes found that in some instances males appeared to have been homosexual from early childhood onward and in most instances, changes likely would not occur. However, in other cases there appeared to have been some degree of conditioning and choice in sexual orientation. This type of change over time had been carefully studied in 762 self-identified heterosexual, bisexual and gay men and women. Scores were derived in three dimensions (fantasy, romantic attraction and actual sexual behavior). Cumulative scores were determined over consecutive 5-year time periods. There were significant sex differences in reported changes in orientation over time for both gays and heterosexuals, with women reporting greater changes in orientation over time than did men. Specifically, lesbians were far more likely than gay men to report having previously identified themselves as something other than homosexual (65% of lesbians, 39% of gay men). A one-point shift on any dimension over their lives was reported in 48% of gay men and 20% of lesbian women. "Thus," he concluded, "it is a myth, according to these data, that once one discovers that they are gay, they always have been and will be gay."

Hughes did spend some time discussing a controversial study, titled, "Homosexual sex as harmful as drug abuse, prostitution or smoking" by Dr Paul Cameron, which has been citicized by pro-gay groups. The work of Cameron is largely dismissed.

Hughes mentioned in his conclusion that he anticipated opposition to his report, which I agree is understandable given the political environment we live in. He said his findings were objective and that he hoped readers would not "shoot the messenger". Obviously, he is aware of the defensiveness of gay activists!

Reference:

Hughes, John R. (2006). A general review of recent reports on homosexuality and lesbianism. Sexuality and Disability, 24, 195-205.

In Memoriam this Christmas: Dr. Charles W. Socarides, M.D.

2007-12-24T19:30:00.000-08:00

Charles W. Socarides, M.D. January 24, 1922 – December 25, 2005

Dr. Socarides was born on January 24, 1922 in Brockton, Massachusetts. He was a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, physician, educator, and prolific author. He focused much of his career on the study of paraphilias, especially homosexuality. He graduated from Harvard College and went on to receive his degree in Psychoanalytic Medicine from Columbia University in 1952. He is most noted for his career as Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City. He was one of the founding fathers and past President of The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) http://www.narth.com/.

I am proud to have personally known Charles, albeit later in his career, but I can say he was a friend and I learned much from him. May God rest his soul and bless his family this Christmas and anniversary of his passing.

A beautiful tribute to Dr. Socarides has been written by Dr. Benjamin Kaufman and can be found at: http://www.narth.com/docs/soctribute2.html