title: Rates and predictors of mental illness in gay men, lesbians and bisexual men and women: Results from a survey based in England and Wales.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a dearth of research into the mental health of gay men, lesbians and bisexual men and women in the UK.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess rates and possible predictors of mental illness in these groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive assessment was made of the psychological and social well-being of a sample of gay men, lesbians and bisexual men and women, identified using 'snowball' sampling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1285 gay, lesbian and bisexual respondents who took part, 556 (43%) had mental disorder as defined by the revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS - R). Out of the whole sample, 361 (31%) had attempted suicide. This was associated with markers of discrimination such as recent physical attack (OR=1.7, 95% CI 1.3-2.3) and school bullying (OR=1.4, 95% CI 1.1-2.0), but not with higher scores on the CIS-R.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gay, lesbian and bisexual men and women have high levels of mental disorder, possibly linked with discrimination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Imperial College London, Paterson Centre, 20 South Wharf Road, London W2 1PD, UK. j.warner@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: Eamonn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McKeown
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Angus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramsay
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cort
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008603:Mental Health; D011287:Prejudice; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology