Abstract
Background: Research into the potential mental health consequences of abortion yields inconsistent results and is characterized by methodological limitations. Aim: To offer a more conclusive insight into women's mental health after an abortion by stringently taking both pre-abortion mental health and confounding covariates into account. Method: A prospective longitudinal cohort study, the Dutch Abortion and Mental Health Study (damhs), through which women with and without abortion experiences could be compared.The study was designed in a similar way to the large scale Dutch population study into mental health of the Trimbos Institute, the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2 (nemesis-2). Results: Women who had an abortion were significantly more likely to have had previous dsm-iv mental disorders. Psychiatric history appeared to be associated with how women experienced and handled the unwanted pregnancy and abortion. A prior history of mental disorders, averse recent life events or an unstable partner relationship increased the risk of developing post abortion mental disorders, while experiencing an abortion did not. Conclusion: Women who have had an abortion more often have a history of mental disorders, yet there is no evidence that an abortion in itself would increase the risk of developing a mental disorder.
| Translated title of the contribution | Abortion and the risk of mental disorders |
|---|---|
| Original language | Dutch |
| Pages (from-to) | 527-535 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Tijdschrift voor Psychiatrie |
| Volume | 60 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2018 |
Keywords
- Abortion
- Common mental disorders
- Psychiatric epidemiology
- Unwanted pregnancy