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Perspective on equitable translational studies and clinical support for an unbiased inclusion of the LGBTQIA2S+community

Neuropsychopharmacology (2023)Cite this article

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Abstract

Research regarding the mental health of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, 2 Spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) community has been historically biased by individual and structural homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia, resulting in research that does not represent the best quality science. Furthermore, much of this research does not serve the best interests or priorities of LGBTQIA2S + communities, despite significant mental health disparities and great need for quality mental health research and treatments in these populations. Here, we will highlight how bias has resulted in missed opportunities for advancing understanding of mental health within LGBTQIA2S + communities. We cite up-to-date research on mental health disparities facing the LGBTQIA2S + community and targeted treatment strategies, as well as guidance from health care professionals. Importantly, research is discussed from both preclinical and clinical perspectives, providing common language and research priorities from a translational perspective. Given the rising tide of anti-transgender sentiment among certain political factions, we further emphasize and discuss the impact of historical and present day ciscentrism and structural transphobia in transgender mental health research, from both clinical and translational perspectives, with suggestions for future directions to improve the quality of this field. Finally, we address current best practices for treatment of mental health issues in this community. This approach provides an opportunity to dispel myths regarding the LGBTQIA2S + community as well as inform the scientific community of best practices to work with this community in an equitable manner. Thus, our approach ties preclinical and clinical research within the LGBTQIA2S + community.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Drs. E. Kale Edmiston, E. Mae Guthman and William Carlezon for their support and encouragement, as well as the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology for the opportunity to bring together these researchers, providing a platform to discuss such important topics. We also would like to thank funding sources R25MH119043 and R13MH126604.

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Jared W. Young, Troy A. Roepke.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Teddy G. Goetz

  2. Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA

    Krisha Aghi

  3. Division of Systems Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, and Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. (RFMH), New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI), New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Christoph Anacker

  4. Child and Adolescent Gender Center, University of California San Francisco, 5633 Ocean View Drive, Oakland, CA, 94618, USA

    Diane Ehrensaft

  5. Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    Neir Eshel

  6. Department of Biology, Touro University, New York, NY, 10023, USA

    Jordan Marrocco

  7. Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Jared W. Young

  8. Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA

    Jared W. Young

  9. Department of Animal Sciences, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA

    Troy A. Roepke

Authors
  1. Teddy G. Goetz
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  2. Krisha Aghi
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  3. Christoph Anacker
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  4. Diane Ehrensaft
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  6. Jordan Marrocco
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  7. Jared W. Young
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  8. Troy A. Roepke
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Contributions

TG: Substantial Contributions to the work design, drafting the work, and final approval. KA: Substantial Contributions to the work design, drafting the work, and final approval. CA: Substantial Contributions to the work design, drafting the work, and final approval. DE: Substantial Contributions to the work design, drafting the work, and final approval. NE: Substantial Contributions to the work design, drafting the work, and final approval. JM: Instigating the work, contributing to its design, drafting, and final approval. JY: Instigating the work, contributing to its design, drafting, and final approval. TR: Instigating the work, contributing to its design, drafting, and final approval.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jared W. Young.

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Goetz, T.G., Aghi, K., Anacker, C. et al. Perspective on equitable translational studies and clinical support for an unbiased inclusion of the LGBTQIA2S+community. Neuropsychopharmacol. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-023-01558-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-023-01558-8

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