Psychiatric history of women who have had an abortion

Abstract

Prior research has focused primarily on the mental health consequences of abortion; little is known about mental health before abortion. In this study, the psychiatric history of women who have had an abortion is investigated. 325 Women who recently had an abortion were compared with 1902 women from the population-based Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS-2). Lifetime prevalence estimates of various mental disorders were measured using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0. Compared to the reference sample, women in the abortion sample were three times more likely to report a history of any mental disorder (OR = 3.06, 95% CI = 2.36-3.98). The highest odds were found for conduct disorder (OR = 6.97, 95% CI = 4.41-11.01) and drug dependence (OR = 4.96, 95% CI = 2.55-9.66). Similar results were found for lifetime-minus-last-year prevalence estimates and for women who had first-time abortions only. The results support the notion that psychiatric history may explain associations that have been found between abortion and mental health. Psychiatric history should therefore be taken into account when investigating the mental health consequences of abortion.

Psychological ill-being experienced by first-time mothers and their partners in pregnancy after abortion: a cohort study

“…These studies revealed opposite results with regard to correlations between IA and post-abortion mental health problems (such as depression and anxiety), suggesting that methodological issues as well as varied interpretation of the results may lead to different conclusions [4,5]. The most consistent predictor of mental disorders post-abortion remains pre-existing disorders [6,7], which may be strongly associated with the mother's prior exposure to sexual abuse and intimate violence [2]. However, a recent study has concluded that women who have an IA are three times more likely to have received a psychiatric diagnosis before the procedure, notably for behaviour disorders and drug dependency [6], suggesting that the mother's prior psychiatric history should be taken into account when evaluating psychiatric symptoms/disorders after the IA.…”

“…The most consistent predictor of mental disorders post-abortion remains pre-existing disorders [6,7], which may be strongly associated with the mother's prior exposure to sexual abuse and intimate violence [2]. However, a recent study has concluded that women who have an IA are three times more likely to have received a psychiatric diagnosis before the procedure, notably for behaviour disorders and drug dependency [6], suggesting that the mother's prior psychiatric history should be taken into account when evaluating psychiatric symptoms/disorders after the IA.…”

Psychological Aspects of Contraception, Unintended Pregnancy, and Abortion

“…Women who have abortions are more likely to have had prior mental-health problems (Steinberg & Finer, 2011; Steinberg et al, 2014; van Ditzhuijzen, ten Have, de Graaf, van Nijnatten, & Vollebergh, 2013). As noted, mental-health symptoms influence contraceptive behaviors and risk of unintended pregnancy.…”

Correlates of Common Mental Disorders Among Dutch Women Who Have Had an Abortion: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

“…Although some studies have found a positive association between abortion and women's lifetime history of mental disorders, these disorders mostly predate the pregnancy . At the same time, the research suggests that a history of mental disorders is more common among women who have had an abortion than among women who have not or who have given birth . These findings suggest that women who have had an abortion—or at least some categories among them—could be particularly vulnerable to future mental disorders.…”

“…Social support might function as an “emotional buffer” for women who have experienced an adverse life event such as an unwanted pregnancy or abortion, protecting them against the incidence of mental disorders . Empirical research has confirmed that perceived social support is an important correlate of women's postabortion experiences, and that the relationship between social support and symptoms of depression might be mediated by self‐efficacy and coping . Past‐year negative life events have been associated with negative mental health in the general population and with postabortion anxiety (but not depression), and such events could also be linked with the abortion decision itself …”