Post-abortion research questioned
Charlie Butts – OneNewsNow – 2/1/2011 4:40:00 AM
The Eliot Institute is disputing research that contends women don't suffer such things as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of having an abortion.
A new study has been released in the New England Journal of Medicine on psychological treatment rates following pregnancy outcome in Denmark. The researchers found that women who had abortions were two to three times more likely to seek psychiatric treatment in the first year afterwards than those who carried their babies to term. But researchers noted that women who aborted sought counseling before the fact already, at a higher rate.
Dr. David Reardon, who heads the Eliot Institute, questions how the data was interpreted.
"Because they saw an elevated rate of seeking treatment prior to the abortion, they assume that was because these women had prior mental health problems, and [they argue] that's the reason why they have higher rates of treatment afterwards — which goes far beyond what the data actually shows," he explains.
Reardon says the Danish assumption is not true. He argues the women did not seek psychiatric counseling because of prior psychological problems.
"Which means during the crisis pregnancy period, they begin to seek psychiatric treatment…which could be basically seeking counseling from psychiatrists on decision-making on whether they should be having the abortion or not," says Reardon. "And if those psychiatrists are encouraging the abortion, they could actually be part of the problem."
He says the study confirms there are no psychological benefits from having an abortion. In fact, the incidence of emotional problems generated after abortion is high — which is what the Elliot Institute has been saying all along.
Reclaiming Our Children: A Blog About Healing After Abortion 
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