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The American Journal of Psychiatry, VOL. 129, No. 5

Articles | November 01, 1972

Women Who Seek Therapeutic Abortion: A Comparison with Women Who Complete Their Pregnancies

CHARLES V. FORD; PIETRO CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO; KAHLILA D. LONG

Am J Psychiatry 1972;129:546-552.

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Head Physician, Psychiatric Liaison Service, Harbor General Hospital, 1000 W. Carson St., Torrance, Calif. 90509 and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles

Chief, Department of Psychiatry, Harbor General Hospital, 1000 W. Carson St., Torrance, Calif. 90509 and professor in the Department of psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles

Psychiatric Social Worker, Psychiatric Liaison Service, Psychiatric Liaison Service, Harbor General Hospital, 1000 W. Carson St., Torrance, Calif. 90509

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Abstract

The authors compared 40 women seeking therapeutic abortion with 52 pregnant women who were not requesting abortion. The women in the abortion group complained more frequently of depression, anxiety, insomnia, loss of libido, anorexia, and suicidal ideation. Their average MMPI scores were significantly elevated for most scales. The women in the abortion group were more likely to have received psychiatric treatment, to have poorer sexual adjustment, and to reject the maternal role. The concept of "accidental" pregnancy is questioned, since women in both groups made little effort to prevent conception.

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