Same-sex attachment disorder

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Same-sex attachment disorder (SSAD) is a term invented by Richard Cohen in an attempt to reclassify homosexuality as an emotional or mental disorder. Although homosexuality was removed from the American Psychological Association's list of mental disorders in 1973 and is not presently regarded as a disorder by most mainstream scientists and medical practicioners, proponents of the term same-sex attachment disorder continue to see homosexual behaviour as largely an emotional response to unresolved childhood trauma and a reparative drive to fulfill unmet "homo-emotional" needs caused by "detachment" from one's same-sex parent and peers, as well as one's own body and gender.

The term is not recognized by any official psychological organization and is virtually unknown outside of groups which advocate the changing of sexual orientation. Critics claim that the concept is meant to sound scientific but based on theorization and anecdotes rather than scientific evidence. On his website, Cohen admits that his theory is based on anecdotal evidence.