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Study Finds that Abortion and Depression Are Not Linked

Post-abortion syndrome does not exist

Dec 4, 2008 20:01 GMT  ·  By
Women should have the right to choose what to do with their body, and not be told so by medieval religious norms
   Women should have the right to choose what to do with their body, and not be told so by medieval religious norms

Researchers at John Watkins Hospital (JWH) in Baltimore recently conducted a census on more than 21 previously-published studies, totaling more than 150,000 female test subjects, from which they found that there was no significant difference in mental health between a woman who had an abortion and one who didn't, regardless of the time frame. The scientists said on Thursday that, most likely, the erroneous information that made the headlines was placed there based on political influence, and not scientific facts.  

JWH researcher Vignetta Charles, a doctoral student who worked with the new survey, says that "Based on the best available evidence, emotional harm should not be a factor in abortion policy. If the goal is to help women, program and policy decisions should not distort science to advance political agendas."  

Dr. Robert Blum, the leader of the research, argues in a statement that "The best research does not support the existence of a 'post-abortion syndrome' similar to post-traumatic stress disorder." The team he led published its discoveries in the journal Contraception.  

The main stake behind this state of induced fear is the banning of abortion, which religious groups, as well as many in Congress, view as "immoral." The problem is that, although no one actually cares what they want, they have enough influence to make it happen, and doom 1.29 million American women to having to give birth to an unwanted child. "The U.S. Supreme Court, while noting that 'we find no reliable data to measure the phenomenon,' cited adverse mental health outcomes for women as part of the rationale for limiting late term abortions," Blum says.  

"The best quality studies indicate no significant differences in long-term mental health between women in the United States who choose to terminate a pregnancy and those who do not. Studies with the most flawed methodology consistently found negative mental health consequences of abortion. Scientists are still conducting research to answer politically motivated questions," the report concludes.