http://blogs.bmj.com/ebmh-talk/2008/12/17/a-tale-of-two-studies-abortion-and-mental-health/ Responding to and stimulating debate about the many subjects that interest and drive the large, diverse, and intellectually hungry medical humanities community. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:16:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 http://blogs.bmj.com/ebmh-talk/2008/12/17/a-tale-of-two-studies-abortion-and-mental-health/#comment-20 Steven Reid Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:08:42 +0000 http://blogs.bmj.com/ebmh-talk/?p=21#comment-20 Unfortunately the incident rates are not given in the paper but the authors do provide a range for the attributable risk: 1.5 to 5.5%. That's an estimate of the proportion of mental disorder in this study sample caused by abortion and I don't think that number would justify additional or specialist services. My concern with repeating these studies is that they add little light but certainly generate a lot of political heat. Unfortunately the incident rates are not given in the paper but the authors do provide a range for the attributable risk: 1.5 to 5.5%. That’s an estimate of the proportion of mental disorder in this study sample caused by abortion and I don’t think that number would justify additional or specialist services. My concern with repeating these studies is that they add little light but certainly generate a lot of political heat.

]]> http://blogs.bmj.com/ebmh-talk/2008/12/17/a-tale-of-two-studies-abortion-and-mental-health/#comment-19 Julie Solomon Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:49:17 +0000 http://blogs.bmj.com/ebmh-talk/?p=21#comment-19 Perhaps the research is needed in order to justify further support services (or sufficient implementation of existing ones) for those women who might be considered to be at risk of subsequent mental health problems? From the posting (I haven't read the articles yet) it isn't clear whether the 30% increased risk (of mental health problems postabortion found in one study) is a significant increase over the risk in the general population. NNT? Perhaps the research is needed in order to justify further support services (or sufficient implementation of existing ones) for those women who might be considered to be at risk of subsequent mental health problems? From the posting (I haven’t read the articles yet) it isn’t clear whether the 30% increased risk (of mental health problems postabortion found in one study) is a significant increase over the risk in the general population. NNT?

]]> http://blogs.bmj.com/ebmh-talk/2008/12/17/a-tale-of-two-studies-abortion-and-mental-health/#comment-18 Jo Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:12:12 +0000 http://blogs.bmj.com/ebmh-talk/?p=21#comment-18 I agree with Dr Reid. I wonder how many of the doctors who sign abortion forms really believe that proceeding with the pregancy would pose a serious threat to the woman's mental health? Lets ditch the deception! I agree with Dr Reid. I wonder how many of the doctors who sign abortion forms really believe that proceeding with the pregancy would pose a serious threat to the woman’s mental health?
Lets ditch the deception!

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