This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on ISI (66)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Psychiatry, Other  • Alert me on articles by topic

Findings From the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS)

Theo G. M. Sandfort, PhD; Ron de Graaf, PhD; Rob V. Bijl, PhD; Paul Schnabel, PhD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2001;58:85-91.

Background  It has been suggested that homosexuality is associated with psychiatric morbidity. This study examined differences between heterosexually and homosexually active subjects in 12-month and lifetime prevalence of DSM-III-R mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders in a representative sample of the Dutch population (N = 7076; aged 18-64 years).

Methods  Data were collected in face-to-face interviews, using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Classification as heterosexual or homosexual was based on reported sexual behavior in the preceding year. Five thousand nine hundred ninety-eight (84.8%) of the total sample could be classified: 2.8% of 2878 men and 1.4% of 3120 women had had same-sex partners. Differences in prevalence rates were tested by logistic regression analyses, controlling for demographics.

Results  Psychiatric disorders were more prevalent among homosexually active people compared with heterosexually active people. Homosexual men had a higher 12-month prevalence of mood disorders (odds ratio [OR] = 2.93; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.54-5.57) and anxiety disorders (OR = 2.61; 95% CI = 1.44-4.74) than heterosexual men. Homosexual women had a higher 12-month prevalence of substance use disorders (OR = 4.05; 95% CI = 1.56-10.47) than heterosexual women. Lifetime prevalence rates reflect identical differences, except for mood disorders, which were more frequently observed in homosexual than in heterosexual women (OR = 2.41; 95% CI = 1.26-4.63). The proportion of persons with 1 or more diagnoses differed only between homosexual and heterosexual women (lifetime OR = 2.61; 95% CI = 1.31-5.19). More homosexual than heterosexual persons had 2 or more disorders during their lifetimes (homosexual men: OR = 2.70; 95% CI = 1.66-4.41; homosexual women: OR = 2.09; 95% CI = 1.07-4.09).

Conclusion  The findings support the assumption that people with same-sex sexual behavior are at greater risk for psychiatric disorders.

From Utrecht University (Drs Sandfort and Schnabel), the Netherlands Institute of Social Sexological Research (Dr Sandfort), and the Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction (Drs de Graaf and Bijl), Utrecht, the Netherlands; and the Social and Cultural Planning Office of the Netherlands, The Hague (Dr Schnabel).

Corresponding author: Theo G. M. Sandfort, PhD, Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, PO Box 80140, 3508 TC Utrecht, the Netherlands (e-mail: t.sandfort{at}fss.uu.nl).

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Sexual Orientation Disparities in Longitudinal Alcohol Use Patterns Among Adolescents: Findings From the Growing Up Today Study
Corliss et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2008;162:1071-1078.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Lifetime Prevalence of Mental Disorders and Suicide Attempts in Diverse Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations
Meyer et al.
Am. J. Public Health 2008;98:1004-1006.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Physical Health Complaints Among Lesbians, Gay Men, and Bisexual and Homosexually Experienced Heterosexual Individuals: Results From the California Quality of Life Survey
Cochran and Mays
Am. J. Public Health 2007;97:2048-2055.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Research, Curricula, and Resources Related to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health in US Schools of Public Health
Corliss et al.
Am. J. Public Health 2007;97:1023-1027.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

An Integrated Model of Gay Men's Depressive Symptoms
Josephson and Whiffen
American Journal of Men's Health 2007;1:60-72.
ABSTRACT  

Sexual Orientation and Mental and Physical Health Status: Findings From a Dutch Population Survey
Sandfort et al.
Am. J. Public Health 2006;96:1119-1125.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Distress and Depression in Men Who Have Sex With Men: The Urban Men's Health Study
Mills et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2004;161:278-285.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Association of Co-Occurring Psychosocial Health Problems and Increased Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS Among Urban Men Who Have Sex With Men
Stall et al.
Am. J. Public Health 2003;93:939-942.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Sexual molestation of males: associations with psychological disturbance
KING et al.
Br. J. Psychiatry 2002;181:153-157.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Sexual orientation and mental health: results from a community survey of young and middle-aged adults
JORM et al.
Br. J. Psychiatry 2002;180:423-427.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Mental Health Correlates of Perceived Discrimination Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in the United States
Mays and Cochran
Am. J. Public Health 2001;91:1869-1876.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Psychiatric Disorders and Drug Use Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Adults in the United States
Bing et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 2001;58:721-728.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT