WASHINGTON, April 8—The membership of the American Psychiatric Association has upheld its beard of trustees decision in December to drop homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.

The vote makes final the change in a position the association had held for nearly 100 years. The trustees' decision had caused a debate within the association that required a referendum by its membership of roughly 20,000 The association, which represents most American psychiatrist, announced the result of the vote today.

The vote, according to the association's announcement, was 5,854 for the trustees' position; 3,810 against it, and 367 abstentions. About half of the membership did not vote.

Before the trustees' action, homosexuality was listed as a sexual deviation on the association's list of mental disorders. It was officially viewed as a condition that merited treatment. The association's new position, in effect, says homosexuality Is a condition that needs to be treated only if the individual wants to change.

The association's official list of mental disorders now includes the term “sexual orientation disturbance” describing individuals whose sexual interests are directed primarily toward persons of the same sex and who are either disturbed by, or in conflict with, that orientation, or persons who wish to change.

“This diagnostic category is distinguished from homosexuality which, by itself, does not necessarily constitute a psychiatric disorder,” the board of trustees' position paper said.

Homosexuals had urged the change last year, contending that defining their condition as a mental disorder tended to deny them jobs and housing.

The referendum was held because of a petition by about 200 psychiatrists who disagreed with the trustees.

The vote was part of the association's annual balloting in which Dr. Judd Marmor of Los Angeles was named president‐elect to succeed Dr. Alfred M. Freedman of New York Medical College.