GAY AND LESBIAN ISSUES IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT-PSYCHIATRY TRAINING ASREPORTED BY TRAINING DIRECTORS

Objective: Although increased evidence of disproportionate psychosocia l risk and other health problems encountered by lesbian, gay male, and bisexual (LGB) youths has emerged, no study has described how the top ic of homosexuality is addressed within child and adolescent residency psychiatry training. Method: Residency training directors in U.S. chi ld and adolescent psychiatry programs were asked questions about instr uction on the topic of homosexuality and the care of LGB patients, the department's view of whether homosexuality represents a pathological condition, the director's awareness of LGB colleagues and residents, a nd the director's opinion of LGB residents' disclosure of their homose xuality to their patients and patients' families. Asking similar quest ions facilitated a comparison of survey results with those of an earli er study of general psychiatry training directors. Results: The report ed departmental attitudes about whether homosexuality represents a pat hological condition were essentially equivalent in general and child p rograms. Child and adolescent training directors were, however, less l ikely to have a favorable view of disclosure of sexual orientation to patients, less likely to know LGB residents or faculty, and less likel y to report LGB residents an asset to their departments. Conclusions: The prediction that the majority of child and adolescent training prog rams would reflect a heightened awareness of the vulnerability of LGB youths was not confirmed.