News for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Physicians

Family, friend support key to minimizing suicide risk in GLBT youth

Support from family and friends often acted as an effective preventive factor against inflicting self-harm and suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adolescents between ages 16 and 20, according to a recent study. 

The study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine evaluated risk factors associated with self harm and suicide among the population. Research showed that youth who felt victimized and didn't have a trusted support network were more likely to have suicidal thoughts and inflict harm.

The study emphasizes the importance of enhancing the availability of support groups for GLBT youth. In addition, it highlights society's responsibility to increase acceptance and reduce the negative stigma sometimes associated with being gay, bisexual or transgender.

Read the complete article. The AMA offers substantial resources to help you meet the needs of your GLBT patient population, including a video that covers best practices in taking a proper sexual health history and a Grand Rounds presentation to share with your colleagues.

Children with gender identity disorder often have psychiatric history, suffer abuse

Young patients presenting with gender identity disorder often have significant psychiatric history; and youth in the top decile of gender nonconformity have elevated exposure to abuse, according to two studies published online in Pediatrics.

Among children and teens evaluated for medical intervention to suppress puberty or for hormone therapy, 44 percent had been given a psychiatric diagnosis—most often depression—and 21 percent reported self-mutilation, reported Norman P. Spack, MD, of Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital Boston, and colleagues.

In a companion study that asked young adults about their gender behavior and beliefs in childhood, 39 percent of women who had exhibited the highest level of nonconformity experienced some type of abuse, as did 30 percent of men, according to Andrea L. Roberts, PhD, of Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, and colleagues.

Pediatricians and school health providers should consider abuse screening for this vulnerable population. Further research to understand how gender nonconformity might increase risk of abuse and to develop family interventions to reduce abuse risk is needed.

Read the studies. View AMA resources for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered patients.