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[Sexual orientation and mental health: a review]
B Lhomond1, M-J Saurel-Cubizolles
1CNRS, ENS LSH, laboratoire Triangle, université de Lyon, 15, parvis René-Descartes, 69342 Lyon cedex 07, France. brigitte.lhomond@ens-lsh.fr
Background:
The aim of this paper is to review available knowledge on sexual orientation and mental health, especially for women.
Methods:
Papers published in English or French, between 1997 and 2007, were selected in PubMed using the following keywords "homosexuality/sexual orientation and mental health/depression/suicide". To be retained, papers had to contain findings from quantitative surveys comparing homosexual and heterosexual adults. In all, this review analyses 22 papers including two that are based on the same survey.
Results:
This review found a general pattern of poorer mental health for homosexuals and even more so for bisexuals compared to heterosexuals. Results are especially consistent regarding elevated risk of suicide attempts.
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