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The scientifically discredited practice of “conversion therapy” remains rampant in several U.S. states to this day, and a new study finds that fewer LGBTQ+ people receive it. They were found to be more likely to have poor mental health than the rest of the population.
The therapist gestures and asks questions as he helps the young man solve his problems.
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important facts
According to a study published Monday in The Lancet Psychiatry, researchers looked at data from 2019 to 2021 from the PRIDE study, used to collect health data from members of the LGBTQ+ community, starting at age 18. It was used by 4,426 LGBTQ+ adults up to the age of 84.
Of the 4,426 participants, 149 reported having experienced conversion therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation, 43 had undergone practices targeting gender identity, and 42 had experienced both. .
Previous research has investigated how conversion therapy affects patients’ mental health, but this has led to the disparate effects of sexual orientation-based conversion therapy and sexual orientation-based methods. This is the first study to investigate.
All participants who underwent any form of conversion therapy, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, experienced depression, PTSD, suicidal thoughts or attempts, although there was no increased risk of anxiety disorders. Risk has increased.
However, cisgender people (those who identify with the gender assigned at birth) who underwent both types of transition practices had higher rates of suicidal thoughts and attempts than transgender participants. Researchers don’t know why.
According to a 2023 PLoS One study, between 4% and 34% of LGBTQ+ people in the United States have experienced religious conversion practices in their lifetime.
What is conversion therapy and why is it so controversial?
Conversion therapy, also known as restorative therapy, is a practice aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, according to the nonprofit advocacy group GLAAD. The technique has been practiced since the 19th century, but older methods often subjected patients to more extreme procedures such as lobotomy and shock therapy. Conversion therapy is opposed by several medical organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association, American Medical Association, and American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, as ineffective and dangerous. Based on the unscientifically unsupported assumptions that homosexuality and gender nonconformity are mental disorders and that sexual orientation and gender identity can be changed, there is “no medical or scientific evidence that conversion therapy is effective.” ”. Ama. Researchers at Cornell University reviewed 13 studies that investigated whether conversion therapy can change sexual orientation without harm, and 12 of them found that the therapy was ineffective or not. concluded that it was harmful.
Is conversion therapy illegal in the United States?
The federal government has not made the practice of conversion therapy illegal. However, according to a study by the nonprofit research organization Movement Advancement Project, 23 states and Washington, D.C., have outright bans on conversion therapy for minors, while five states and Puerto Rico have not. Partial ban on adult conversion therapy (prohibits use of state funds for conversion practices). .
Which groups of people undergo conversion therapy most often?
Conversion therapy was more common among Lancet study participants who were transgender, experienced homelessness, had a religious upbringing, grew up in a community that did not accept their gender identity, or were a minority. was reported. Research shows that treatment is typically delivered by religious leaders or organizations, followed by mental health providers.
big number
1,320. That’s the number of conversion therapies practiced in 48 states and Washington, D.C., according to a 2023 study by The Trevor Project. Pennsylvania, Texas, Minnesota, Missouri, and Ohio have the highest numbers of unlicensed and licensed practitioners in social work, psychology, or other related mental health fields.
