Induced Abortion for Psychiatric Indication

Women considered for induced abortion for psychiatric indication under a restrictive state law were studied over a period of seven years. The recommendation for abortion was unrelated to a number of social variables but it was associated with judged suicide risk and psychiatric diagnosis. Most patients, both those who had abortions and those who carried the pregnancy to term, were better or unchanged in overall psychosocial competence at a long-range follow-up. A small group of women who were aborted were judged worse; this group also showed evidence of immediate adverse response after abortion.