Mental health treatment for LGBTQ individuals has evolved to recognize that sexual orientation is just one piece of a complex identity puzzle. New research reveals how young Black and Latino gay and bisexual men experience and benefit from specialized therapy that addresses the unique stresses they face as members of multiple minority groups.
Understanding Minority Stress in Therapy
Researchers studied 20 young Black and Latino men who participated in LGBTQ affirmative cognitive behavioral therapy, a treatment specifically designed to help sexual minorities cope with discrimination and stigma. The therapy introduces participants to the concept of "minority stress," which describes how belonging to a stigmatized group can create psychological pressure and mental health challenges.
When therapists presented this framework to participants, something interesting happened. Rather than focusing solely on stress related to their sexual orientation, these men naturally drew connections to other aspects of their identities that also created stress in their lives.
Gaming addiction has become a serious concern as technology becomes more central to our lives. About 6.7% of people worldwide struggle with internet gaming disorder, a condition that can disrupt sleep, academic performance, and overall quality of life. New research suggests that cognitive behavioural therapy, a type of talk therapy, offers real hope for people dealing with this addiction.
What the Research Found
Scientists reviewed 13 different studies involving over 1,100 people, mostly young adults around 19 years old, to understand how well cognitive behavioural therapy works for gaming addiction. The results showed that this type of therapy produces moderate but meaningful improvements in reducing addictive gaming behaviours when compared to people who didn't receive treatment.
The research team found that cognitive behavioural therapy helps people identify the thoughts and triggers that lead to excessive gaming, then teaches them healthier ways to cope with these urges. This approach focuses on helping people solve their own problems rather than just telling them what to do.
Heart surgery can be lifesaving, but the road to recovery often involves more than just physical healing. Many people who undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery, commonly known as CABG, experience significant psychological challenges during their recovery period. A recent systematic review has shed light on how cognitive behavioral therapy can play an important role in helping these patients recover both mentally and physically.
The Hidden Challenges After Heart Surgery
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is performed on more than 400,000 people annually, making it one of the most common cardiac procedures. While this surgery significantly improves survival rates for people with coronary artery disease, patients often face unexpected emotional hurdles afterward.
Research has documented that psychological disturbances following cardiac surgery have been recognized since 1968. Patients frequently experience heightened emotions, sleep difficulties, irritability, concerns about their future, and a perceived lack of control over their lives. The statistics are sobering: depression affects 19 to 37% of patients before surgery and continues to impact 15 to 33% after the procedure.
These psychological challenges are not just uncomfortable; they can directly affect physical recovery and long term health outcomes. Depression after heart surgery has been linked to irregular heart rhythms, chest pain recurrence, a doubled risk of future cardiac events, higher cardiac mortality rates, unplanned hospital readmissions, and significantly reduced quality of life.
