Abortion very real risk for depression

42% of women in a New Zealand study were found to develop major depression in the 4 years following an abortion. This rate was in stark contrast to women who had never been pregnant, or those who had gone through with a pregnancy by 50% - 35% respectively. Other studies have found that mental health is preserved, if not enhanced by aborting an unwanted pregnancy, however this study identified that the women were more likely to suffer alcohol and drug abuse, anxiety, self harm and suicidal behavior. In the study group examined for the research, one woman in seven had an abortion by 25 years of age, with the procedure being the most common surgery for young adults.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by The New Zealand Herald

Related Disease Topics:

• Pregnancy
• Major depression

Related Symptom Topics:

• Anxiety
• Alcohol abuse
• Drug abuse
• Self harm
• Suicidal behavior

Article Source Details

About: Abortion very real risk for depression

Date: 4 January 2005

Source: The New Zealand Herald

Author: Greg Tourelle

URL: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10362363

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Surgery
• Surgery and abortion
• Surgery and pregnancy
• Risk and abortion
• Risk and pregnancy
• Risk and unwanted pregnancy
• Risk and anxiety
• Risk and alcohol abuse
• Risk and drug abuse
• Risk and self harm
• Risk and suicidal behavior
• Risk and pregnancy
• Risk and major depression
• Risk and mental health
• Risk and mental illness
• Risk and depression
• Risk and women's health
• Research
• Research and abortion
• Research and pregnancy
• Research and unwanted pregnancy
• Research and risk and anxiety
• Research and alcohol abuse
• Research and drug abuse
• Research and self harm
• Research and suicidal behavior
• Research and pregnancy
• Research and major depression
• Research and mental health
• Research and mental illness
• Research and depression
• Research and women's health

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