In Germany there is a scientific gap in psychiatry and psychotherapy towards specific aspects of different sexual orientations. There are only a few research studies investigating mental health in gay, lesbian and bisexual people and their special needs in the mental health care system. Non-pathologizing developmental theories and new findings about sexual orientation are hardly recognized in psychiatric textbooks, education and teaching.

Therefore in 2009 the DGPPN Referat “Sexual Orientation in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy” was founded. On the DGPPN congress 2009 the two symposia were organized. In the state of the art symposium specific aspects towards theories and mental health of gay, lesbian and bisexual people were discussed. Also the response of mental health professionals and ethical aspects of interventions aimed at changing sexual orientation were referred. In the second symposium influences of the Third Reich on the psychiatric perspectives towards homosexuality were discussed.

Future goals of the DGPPN Referat are the development of guidelines for treatment, teaching and education in Germany and the establishment of a German and European scientific network.