Abortion and depression
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=413049&in_page_id=1770
Women who have abortions are three times as likely to suffer depression and other mental illness, it emerged yesterday.
Senior doctors claim new evidence shows a clear link between abortion and mental health problems in women who previously had no history of such illness.
They believe the risks are being 'played down' so women wanting an abortion are kept in the dark.
As a result those considering having an abortion should be warned of the dangers, says a group of leading specialists.
The call comes in a letter from 15 senior obstetricians and psychiatrists to mark the anniversary of the legalisation of abortion 39 years ago.
Since the Abortion Act came into effect in 1967, more than six million abortions have been carried out in Britain, with levels now running at around 200,000 a year.
The letter headed by Patricia Casey, professor of psychiatry at University College, Dublin, says medical guidance to doctors should be revised to take greater account of the mental health risks.
She said a New Zealand study found women who have had abortions have twice the level of psychological problems and three times the level of depression as women who have given birth or never been pregnant.
"Since women having abortions can no longer be said to have a low risk of suffering from psychiatric conditions such as depression, doctors have a duty to advise about the long-term adverse psychological consequences of abortion," she wrote in the letter to The Times newspaper.
The study said abortion could trigger depression and other illnesses in women with no mental problems in the past.
The research prompted the Amercian Psychology Association to withdraw an official statement which denied a link between abortion and psychlogical harm.
But Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), which is responsible for one-quarter of all abortions carried out in the UK each year, said women were already counselled about the risk of depression.
She said the focus of concern about abortions had switched in recent years from moral objections to physical and mental risks.
She said: "Any women having abortion counselling is currently advised of the risk of long-term depression because she needs the information to be able to give proper consent."
"We can say that some women in some circumstances may experience depression after abortion, but the vast majority do not."
"They usually feel relieved, if saddened."
"I have not seen the New Zealand study, but often the difficulty with this kind of research is that women with an unwanted pregnancy are compared to women who are not in that position."
"However, it is not comparing like with like because these women are faced with two choices, to have a baby they do not want or have an abortion, that may be equally difficult."
She said the charity's board meets four times a year to update advice given to women about the risks.
"The risks are not trivialised or played down," she added.
There is to be a renewed attempt next week to reduce the time limits for abortion from 24 weeks to 21 weeks, and a cooling off period after a women has decided to have an abortion.
A bill will be presented to Parliament by Nadine Dorries, MP for Mid-Bedfordshire, despite protests from pro-choice campaigners that women already face delays in getting NHS abortions that forces them to go private.
Anna Pringle, a spokeswoman for LIFE, said its own research showed some women suffered post-abortion trauma that left them with psychlogical suffering.
She said: "This survey confirms the reality that LIFE counsellors and support staff see and hear every day. We know that, for many women, abortion can have a devastating impact on their psychological health."
"We applaud members of the medical profession for highlighting the devastating effects suffered by many women after abortion," said Citra Abbott of pro-life campaign group Alive and Kicking.
"The abortion industry has, for too long, marketed abortion as a positive solution to a crisis pregnancy, denying the distress and long term trauma that can be experienced."
"We urge the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Psychiatrists to formally acknowledge the very real risk of psychological harm."
"Surely those who support a woman's right to abortion must also support her right to know the risks associated with that choice."
"Choice is only a reality if women know exactly what it is that they are choosing."
Peter Saunders, General Secretary of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said, "As well as ending the lives of 200,000 unborn children every year; abortion leaves many women hurt, damaged and not knowing where to turn." "This strengthening evidence for a link between abortion and mental illness needs to be taken very seriously."
"Women have a right to know the medical facts in order that they make fully informed decisions and get the help they need, and doctors, and particularly the Royal Colleges, have a responsibility to impart accurate information and provide proper care."
This is a significant study in that unlike some other studies in this area that have suggested elevated risk for depression this study appears to have controlled for women who have an existing issue with depression.
Although this is a study that is potentially significant and can assist physicians who perform abortions in sharing information with their patients it is important to take into consideration that women who feel under-supported, women who are in fragile marriages, women without consistent reliable financial resources etc are all over-represented in the number of women who have abortions. They feel that their lives lack the stability to welcome a baby. It could be that those factors, rather than the abortion itself, end up contributing to a mental health disability.
It is also possible that someone can experience depression related to the decision to abort but still affirm that decision as something that they see as the best possible decision under the circumstances. I have met women who are greatly saddened by their abortion but still continue to feel it represented the right choice.
I don't think that this is a slam-dunk victory for the pro-life by any stretch and we need to remain cognizant of other explanations. It does, however, serve as a valuable tool in the discussions that are ongoing about the impact of abortion on mothers.
Women who have abortions are three times as likely to suffer depression and other mental illness, it emerged yesterday.
Senior doctors claim new evidence shows a clear link between abortion and mental health problems in women who previously had no history of such illness.
They believe the risks are being 'played down' so women wanting an abortion are kept in the dark.
As a result those considering having an abortion should be warned of the dangers, says a group of leading specialists.
The call comes in a letter from 15 senior obstetricians and psychiatrists to mark the anniversary of the legalisation of abortion 39 years ago.
Since the Abortion Act came into effect in 1967, more than six million abortions have been carried out in Britain, with levels now running at around 200,000 a year.
The letter headed by Patricia Casey, professor of psychiatry at University College, Dublin, says medical guidance to doctors should be revised to take greater account of the mental health risks.
She said a New Zealand study found women who have had abortions have twice the level of psychological problems and three times the level of depression as women who have given birth or never been pregnant.
"Since women having abortions can no longer be said to have a low risk of suffering from psychiatric conditions such as depression, doctors have a duty to advise about the long-term adverse psychological consequences of abortion," she wrote in the letter to The Times newspaper.
The study said abortion could trigger depression and other illnesses in women with no mental problems in the past.
The research prompted the Amercian Psychology Association to withdraw an official statement which denied a link between abortion and psychlogical harm.
But Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), which is responsible for one-quarter of all abortions carried out in the UK each year, said women were already counselled about the risk of depression.
She said the focus of concern about abortions had switched in recent years from moral objections to physical and mental risks.
She said: "Any women having abortion counselling is currently advised of the risk of long-term depression because she needs the information to be able to give proper consent."
"We can say that some women in some circumstances may experience depression after abortion, but the vast majority do not."
"They usually feel relieved, if saddened."
"I have not seen the New Zealand study, but often the difficulty with this kind of research is that women with an unwanted pregnancy are compared to women who are not in that position."
"However, it is not comparing like with like because these women are faced with two choices, to have a baby they do not want or have an abortion, that may be equally difficult."
She said the charity's board meets four times a year to update advice given to women about the risks.
"The risks are not trivialised or played down," she added.
There is to be a renewed attempt next week to reduce the time limits for abortion from 24 weeks to 21 weeks, and a cooling off period after a women has decided to have an abortion.
A bill will be presented to Parliament by Nadine Dorries, MP for Mid-Bedfordshire, despite protests from pro-choice campaigners that women already face delays in getting NHS abortions that forces them to go private.
Anna Pringle, a spokeswoman for LIFE, said its own research showed some women suffered post-abortion trauma that left them with psychlogical suffering.
She said: "This survey confirms the reality that LIFE counsellors and support staff see and hear every day. We know that, for many women, abortion can have a devastating impact on their psychological health."
"We applaud members of the medical profession for highlighting the devastating effects suffered by many women after abortion," said Citra Abbott of pro-life campaign group Alive and Kicking.
"The abortion industry has, for too long, marketed abortion as a positive solution to a crisis pregnancy, denying the distress and long term trauma that can be experienced."
"We urge the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Psychiatrists to formally acknowledge the very real risk of psychological harm."
"Surely those who support a woman's right to abortion must also support her right to know the risks associated with that choice."
"Choice is only a reality if women know exactly what it is that they are choosing."
Peter Saunders, General Secretary of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said, "As well as ending the lives of 200,000 unborn children every year; abortion leaves many women hurt, damaged and not knowing where to turn." "This strengthening evidence for a link between abortion and mental illness needs to be taken very seriously."
"Women have a right to know the medical facts in order that they make fully informed decisions and get the help they need, and doctors, and particularly the Royal Colleges, have a responsibility to impart accurate information and provide proper care."
This is a significant study in that unlike some other studies in this area that have suggested elevated risk for depression this study appears to have controlled for women who have an existing issue with depression.
Although this is a study that is potentially significant and can assist physicians who perform abortions in sharing information with their patients it is important to take into consideration that women who feel under-supported, women who are in fragile marriages, women without consistent reliable financial resources etc are all over-represented in the number of women who have abortions. They feel that their lives lack the stability to welcome a baby. It could be that those factors, rather than the abortion itself, end up contributing to a mental health disability.
It is also possible that someone can experience depression related to the decision to abort but still affirm that decision as something that they see as the best possible decision under the circumstances. I have met women who are greatly saddened by their abortion but still continue to feel it represented the right choice.
I don't think that this is a slam-dunk victory for the pro-life by any stretch and we need to remain cognizant of other explanations. It does, however, serve as a valuable tool in the discussions that are ongoing about the impact of abortion on mothers.
posted by MissHailey at 10:34 AM
1 Comments:
Well done! Check my Blog which may be of some interest:
http://christianityisnotleftwing.blogspot.com/
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