No Evidence That Single Abortion Causes Significant Mental Conditions, APA Task Force Report Says

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 14 Aug 2008 - 7:00 PDT

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An American Psychological Association task force review of more than 150 studies has found that although women who choose to terminate unplanned pregnancies might have feelings of grief and loss, the relative risk of mental health problems is no greater if they have a single abortion than if they deliver that pregnancy, the New York Times reports (Carey, New York Times, 8/13). The APA draft report found that evidence for mental health outcomes for women who undergo multiple abortions is less clear, USA Today reports (Jayson, USA Today, 8/13).

The panel called for new studies with improved designs to "help disentangle confounding factors," such as patients' income and medical history. According to the Times, the panel's findings are nearly identical to a 1990 APA review (New York Times, 8/13). The new report looked at research on the issue since 1989. Brenda Major, chair of the task force, said nearly all of the studies examined by the panel have "serious methodological problems." According to USA Today, the report will be considered on Wednesday by APA's governing body (USA Today, 8/13).

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