Psychosocial Interventions for Mental Illness among LGBTQIA Youth: A PRISMA-Based Systematic Review

Abstract

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA) youth experience a unique range of psychosocial stressors often culminating in poor mental health outcomes. A systematic review of trials that evaluated psychosocial interventions for LGBTQIA youth aged 12–25 was undertaken to evaluate the effect of treatment components and participant-related variables on treatment outcome. The results suggest that creating safe, accepting places, discussion of shared experiences, and using a cognitive behavioural or attachment-based family therapy framework significantly decreased depression, sexual minority stress, anxiety and drug and alcohol use, and enhanced participant approval. LGBTQIA youth had poorer baseline mental health than non-LGBTQIA youth and experienced greater improvements. Further experimental research is needed to define effective treatment components and relevant individual factors to maximise treatment efficacy.