[Document of the American Psychiatric Association, drawn from http://www.sexovida.com/psiquiatria/apa.htm ]
In December 1998, was issued a position statement regarding the American Psychiatric Association (APA) opposes any psychiatric treatment, such as therapy "reparative" or conversion, based on the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder or in the event that the patient should change their homosexual sexual orientation (see APPENDIX 1). With this, the APA joined many other professional organizations that oppose or are critical of therapies "remedial." The following Position Statement expands and elaborates on the statement issued to address concerns over public and professionals on therapies aimed at changing sexual orientation or gender identity of the patient. Increases 1998 statement rather than replace it:
In the past, defining homosexuality as an illness buttressed the moral opprobrium of society with the same-sex relationships. In the current social climate, claiming homosexuality is a mental disorder stems from efforts to discredit the growing acceptance of homosexuality as a normal variant of human sexuality. Consequently, the issue of changing sexual orientation has become highly politicized. The integration of gays and lesbians into the mainstream of American society is opposed by those who fear that such integration is morally wrong and harmful to the social fabric.
The political and moral debates surrounding this issue have obscured scientific information by questioning the motives and even the character of individuals on both sides of the issue. This paper attempts to highlight anything in this hot spot.
The validity, efficacy and ethics of clinical attempts to change the individual's sexual orientation have been challenged. To date, there are no outcome studies with scientific rigor to determine the actual efficacy or harm of reparative therapies. There is sparse scientific data about selection criteria, risks versus benefits of treatment and long-term consequences of therapy. The literature consists of anecdotal reports from individuals who claim to have changed, people claiming that attempts to change were harmful, and others who claimed to have changed and then retracted their statements.
With little information about patients, it is possible to evaluate the theories that rationalize the conduct of therapy "reparative" or conversion. First, they are at odds with the scientific position of the American Psychiatric Association has held since 1973, that homosexuality in itself is not a mental disorder. Theories of therapists "repairmen" define homosexuality as a developmental arrest, a severe form of psychopathology, or some combination of both. In recent years, noted practitioners of "reparative therapy have openly integrated older psychoanalytic theories that pathologizing homosexuality with traditional religious beliefs condemn.
The earliest scientific criticisms of the early theories and therapies religious beliefs informing "reparative" or conversion, came primarily from sexology researchers. Later, criticisms emerged from psychoanalytic sources. It has even been an increasing body of religious thought arguing against traditional, biblical interpretations that condemn homosexuality and which underlie religious types of therapy "restorative."
Recommendations:
1. APA affirms its 1973 position on homosexuality per se is not a diagnosable mental disorder. Publicized recent efforts to repatologizar to saying that homosexuality can be cured are often motivated not by rigorous scientific or psychiatric, but sometimes by religious and political forces opposed to full civil rights for gay men and lesbians. It should respond quickly and appropriately as a scientific organization when issued statements that homosexuality is "curable", made by political or religious groups.
2. As a general principle, a therapist should not determine the goal of treatment either coercively or through subtle influence. Psychotherapeutic modalities to convert or "repair" homosexuality are based on developmental theories whose scientific validity is questionable. Moreover, anecdotal reports of "cures" are counterbalanced by anecdotal claims of psychological harm. In the past four decades therapists "repair" have not produced any rigorous scientific research to substantiate their claims of both cura.Hasta such research is not available, APA recommends that ethical practitioners avoid trying to change the sexual orientation of individuals, recalling the doctor dictated "First, do no harm" (primun non nocere)
3. The literature on therapies "remedial" uses theories that make it difficult to formulate scientific selection criteria for their treatment modality. This literature not only ignores the impact of social stigma in motivating efforts to cure homosexuality, is a literature that also the therapy literature activamente.La stigmatized "repair" also tends to sobreafirmar treatment outcomes while neglecting the potential risks to patients. APA encourages and supports research at NIMH (Mental Health Institute) for the academic research community better identify the risks of therapies "remedial" in relation to its benefits.
Appendix:
The Board of Trustees of the APA removed homosexuality from the DSM in 1973, after reviewing the evidence that was not a mental disorder. In 1987, ego-dystonic homosexuality was not included in the DSM-III-R after a similar review.
American Psychiatric Association does not currently have a formal position on treatments that attempt to change people's sexual orientation, also known as reparative or conversion therapy.
There is an APA 1997 Fact Sheet on Homosexual and Bisexual Issues, "which asserts that there is no published scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of reparative therapy as a treatment to change sexual orientation.
potential risks of reparative therapy are great, including depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior, since therapist alignment with societal prejudices against homosexuality may reinforce self-hatred already experienced by the patient. Many patients who have undergone reparative therapy relate that they were inaccurately told that homosexuals are lonely, unhappy individuals who never achieve acceptance or satisfaction. The possibility that the person might achieve happiness and satisfying interpersonal relationships as a gay man or lesbian is not presented, nor are they discussed alternative approaches to address the effects of social stigma.
The APA acknowledges that in the course of psychiatric treatment, clinical signs may be appropriate to try to change sexual behaviors.
American Psychiatric Association has already taken clear positions against discrimination, prejudice and unethical treatment on a variety of topics, including discrimination based on sexual orientation.
In December 1998, was issued a position statement regarding the American Psychiatric Association (APA) opposes any psychiatric treatment, such as therapy "reparative" or conversion, based on the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder or in the event that the patient should change their homosexual sexual orientation (see APPENDIX 1). With this, the APA joined many other professional organizations that oppose or are critical of therapies "remedial." The following Position Statement expands and elaborates on the statement issued to address concerns over public and professionals on therapies aimed at changing sexual orientation or gender identity of the patient. Increases 1998 statement rather than replace it:
In the past, defining homosexuality as an illness buttressed the moral opprobrium of society with the same-sex relationships. In the current social climate, claiming homosexuality is a mental disorder stems from efforts to discredit the growing acceptance of homosexuality as a normal variant of human sexuality. Consequently, the issue of changing sexual orientation has become highly politicized. The integration of gays and lesbians into the mainstream of American society is opposed by those who fear that such integration is morally wrong and harmful to the social fabric.
The political and moral debates surrounding this issue have obscured scientific information by questioning the motives and even the character of individuals on both sides of the issue. This paper attempts to highlight anything in this hot spot.
The validity, efficacy and ethics of clinical attempts to change the individual's sexual orientation have been challenged. To date, there are no outcome studies with scientific rigor to determine the actual efficacy or harm of reparative therapies. There is sparse scientific data about selection criteria, risks versus benefits of treatment and long-term consequences of therapy. The literature consists of anecdotal reports from individuals who claim to have changed, people claiming that attempts to change were harmful, and others who claimed to have changed and then retracted their statements.
With little information about patients, it is possible to evaluate the theories that rationalize the conduct of therapy "reparative" or conversion. First, they are at odds with the scientific position of the American Psychiatric Association has held since 1973, that homosexuality in itself is not a mental disorder. Theories of therapists "repairmen" define homosexuality as a developmental arrest, a severe form of psychopathology, or some combination of both. In recent years, noted practitioners of "reparative therapy have openly integrated older psychoanalytic theories that pathologizing homosexuality with traditional religious beliefs condemn.
The earliest scientific criticisms of the early theories and therapies religious beliefs informing "reparative" or conversion, came primarily from sexology researchers. Later, criticisms emerged from psychoanalytic sources. It has even been an increasing body of religious thought arguing against traditional, biblical interpretations that condemn homosexuality and which underlie religious types of therapy "restorative."
Recommendations:
1. APA affirms its 1973 position on homosexuality per se is not a diagnosable mental disorder. Publicized recent efforts to repatologizar to saying that homosexuality can be cured are often motivated not by rigorous scientific or psychiatric, but sometimes by religious and political forces opposed to full civil rights for gay men and lesbians. It should respond quickly and appropriately as a scientific organization when issued statements that homosexuality is "curable", made by political or religious groups.
2. As a general principle, a therapist should not determine the goal of treatment either coercively or through subtle influence. Psychotherapeutic modalities to convert or "repair" homosexuality are based on developmental theories whose scientific validity is questionable. Moreover, anecdotal reports of "cures" are counterbalanced by anecdotal claims of psychological harm. In the past four decades therapists "repair" have not produced any rigorous scientific research to substantiate their claims of both cura.Hasta such research is not available, APA recommends that ethical practitioners avoid trying to change the sexual orientation of individuals, recalling the doctor dictated "First, do no harm" (primun non nocere)
3. The literature on therapies "remedial" uses theories that make it difficult to formulate scientific selection criteria for their treatment modality. This literature not only ignores the impact of social stigma in motivating efforts to cure homosexuality, is a literature that also the therapy literature activamente.La stigmatized "repair" also tends to sobreafirmar treatment outcomes while neglecting the potential risks to patients. APA encourages and supports research at NIMH (Mental Health Institute) for the academic research community better identify the risks of therapies "remedial" in relation to its benefits.
Appendix:
The Board of Trustees of the APA removed homosexuality from the DSM in 1973, after reviewing the evidence that was not a mental disorder. In 1987, ego-dystonic homosexuality was not included in the DSM-III-R after a similar review.
American Psychiatric Association does not currently have a formal position on treatments that attempt to change people's sexual orientation, also known as reparative or conversion therapy.
There is an APA 1997 Fact Sheet on Homosexual and Bisexual Issues, "which asserts that there is no published scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of reparative therapy as a treatment to change sexual orientation.
potential risks of reparative therapy are great, including depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior, since therapist alignment with societal prejudices against homosexuality may reinforce self-hatred already experienced by the patient. Many patients who have undergone reparative therapy relate that they were inaccurately told that homosexuals are lonely, unhappy individuals who never achieve acceptance or satisfaction. The possibility that the person might achieve happiness and satisfying interpersonal relationships as a gay man or lesbian is not presented, nor are they discussed alternative approaches to address the effects of social stigma.
The APA acknowledges that in the course of psychiatric treatment, clinical signs may be appropriate to try to change sexual behaviors.
American Psychiatric Association has already taken clear positions against discrimination, prejudice and unethical treatment on a variety of topics, including discrimination based on sexual orientation.
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