BIAS TOWARDS GAY PATIENTS BY PSYCHOANALYTIC CLINICIAN - AN EMPIRICAL-INVESTIGATION

Results of an empirical investigation of psychoanalysts' attitudes rew ards and clinical assessment of gay patients are reported. The study e mployed marched-vignette methodology; analysts rated their reactions o n the Semantic Differential to homosexual and heterosexual patients wi th identical histories. They also rated degree of impairment in psycho logical functioning on the Global Assessment of Functioning and made D SM-III-R diagnoses. Results indicate that psychoanalysts maintain a su btle but significant negative bias towards homosexual patients particu lars those that have serious psychopathology. A negative bias towards the mentally ill in general also emerged. Suggestions for future studi es and implications for training clinicians are discussed.