. Missing Pieces

Is Abortion a Traumatic Event?
By Trudy M. Johnson, MA, LMFT

girl profile The American Psychiatric Association does not recognize a condition called “post-abortion syndrome” ( PAS) (1994). Out of respect for this mindset, this author will not debate whether “post-abortion syndrome” as a mental health diagnosis actually exists or not. Here are some studies that examine the after affects of abortion that I feel reflect the possibility that abortion can be a traumatic event for women.

Depression and Thoughts of Suicide:

  • Sad Mood
  • Sudden and Uncontrollable Crying
    • M.C. Freda et al., “The lived experience of miscarriage after infertility,” American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing 28:1 (2003): 16-23.
  • Deterioration of Self-Esteem
    • D.C. Reardon et al., “Deaths associated with pregnancy outcome: a record linkage study of low income women,” Southern Med J 95:8 (2002): 834-41.
    • Cougle JR, Reardon DC, Coleman PK. Depression associated with abortion and childbirth: A long-term analysis of the NLSY cohort. Archives of Women’s Mental Health 2001; 3(4)Supp.2:105.
    • Rue V. Postabortion Trauma. Lewisville, Texas: Life Dynamics, 1994; pp. 67-8.
    • Freeman EW, Rickels K, Huggins GR, Garcia CR, Polin J. Emotional distress patterns among women having first or repeat abortions. Obstetrics & Gynecology 1980 May; 55(5):630-6.
    • M.C. Freda et al., “The lived experience of miscarriage after infertility,” American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing 28:1 (2003): 16-23.
    • Donnai P, Charles N, Harris R. Attitudes of patients after “genetic” termination of pregnancy. British Medical Journal 1981;282:621-622, p. 622.

◦ Anxiety

30% of post-abortive women suffer from clinically diagnosed anxiety disorder. (“Journal of Axiety Disorders,” Novermber 2004.)


  • Disruption in Interpersonal Relationships
    • Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. at 851.
    • Bracken and Kasl, “First and Repeat Abortions,” op. cit. (ch. 11, no.1).
    • J.R. Cougle, D.C. Reardon and P.K. Coleman, “Depression associated with abortion and childbirth: A long-term analysis of the NLSY cohort,” Arch. Women’s Mental Health 3(4) Suppl. 2:105 (2001).
    • Lauzon P et al. Emotional distress in couples involved in first-trimester induced abortions. Canadian Family Physician 2000 October;46: 2033-2040.
    • Tornbom M, Ingelhammar E, Lilja H, Moller A, Svanberg B. Repeat abortion: a comparative study. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology 1996 Dec; 17(4): 213.
    • Rue V. Postabortion Trauma. Lewisville, Texas: Life Dynamics, 1994a; p. 28.
    • Sherman DH, mandelman N, Kerenyi TD, Scher J. The abortion experience in private practice. In: Finn W, Tallmer M, Seeland I, Kutscher AH, Clark E, editors. Women and Loss: Psychobiological Perspectives. New York: Praeger, 1985: 98-107.
    • Brende JO. Fragmentation of the personality associated with post-abortion trauma. Newletter of the Assoication for Interdisciplinary Research in Values and Social Change July/August 1995; 8(3):1-8; p.6.
    • Bittman S, Zalk Rosenberg S. Expectant Fathers (1978). Reprinted. New York: Nawthorn Books, 1980.


  • Sleep, Appetite, and Sexual Disturbances
    • Erika Bachiochi, ed. The Cost of “Choice”: Women Evaluate the Impact of Abortion ( San Francisco: Encounter Books, 2004).
    • Theresa Burke and David C. Reardon, Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion ( Springfield: Acorn Books, 2002).
    • Brende JO. Fragmentation of the personality associated with post-abortion trauma. Newsletter of the Association for Interdisciplinary Research in Values and Social Change July/August 1995; 8(3):1-8; p. 6.
    • Rue, V. The psychological realities of induced abortion. In Post-Abortion Aftermath, ed. M Mannion. Kansas City: Sheed and Ward, 1994b, pp. 27-28.
    • Pierce L. Abortion attitudes and experiences in a group of male prisoners. Newsletter of the Association for Interdisciplinary Research in Values and Social Change 1994 January/February; 6(2):1-8; p.8.
    • Torre-Bueno A. Peace After Abortion. San Diego, California: Pimpernel Press, 1997; p. 45, p. 44.
    • Alexander PC. Application of attachment theory to the study of sexual abuse. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1992 April; 60(2): 185-95.
    • Torre-Beuno A. Peace After Abortion. San Diego, California: Pimpernel Press, 1997; p. 27.


  • Reduced Motivation
    • Theresa Burke with David C. Reardon. Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion. Springfield: Acorn Books, 2002, p. 205.
    • Elizabeth Ring-Cassidy and Ian Gentles. Women’s Health after Abortion: The Medical and Psychological Evidence, 2d. ed. The deVeber Institute for Bioethics and Social Research, 2003.
    • B. Garfinkle et. al, Stress, Depression, and Suicide: A Study of Adolescents in Minnesota (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Extension Service, 1996).
    • The Elliott Institute Survey: “Psychological Reactions Reported After Abortion”.
    • Zolese G, Blucker CVR. The psychological complications of therapeutic abortion. British Journal of Psychiatry 1992; 160: 742-749, p. 742.
    • Gilchrist AC, Hannaford P, Frank P, Kay CR. Termination of pregnancy and psychiatric morbidity. British Journal of Psychiatry 1995 August; 167(2):243-8; p. 243.
    • Gissler M, Hemmink E, Lonnqvist J. Letters: Suicides after Pregnancy – Authors’ Reply. British Medical Journal 1997 March 22;903(7084).
    • Clare AW, Tyrell J. Psychiatric aspects of abortion. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine 1994 June; 11(2): 92-8, p. 92.
    • Morgan CL, Evans M, Peters JR. Suicides after pregnancy. Mental health may deteriorate as a direct effect of induced abortion. British Medical Journal 1997 March 22; 314 (7084):902; discussion 902-3.

  • "Anniversary Syndrome" (An increase of symptoms around the time of the anniversary of the abortion and/or the due date of the aborted child.)
    • K. Franco et. Al., “Anniversary Reactions and Due Date Responses Following Abortion,” op. cit. (ch. 6 no. 1).
    • Cindy Hendrickson, “Consequences,” The Post-Abortion Review, 5(2):8 (Spring 1997). www.afterabortion.info.
    • Iles S, Gath D. Psychiatric outcome of termination of pregnancy for foetal abnormality. Psychological Medicine 1993 May;232:407-13, p. 410.
    • Vincent M. Rue, Ph.D., Post Abortion Trauma: Controversy, Diagnosis & Defense (Lewisville, TX: Life Dynamics, 1994), 40.
    • Lenore Terr, Too Scared to Cry (New York: Basic Books, 1990).


  • Re-experiencing the Abortion
    • Theresa Burke with David C. Reardon. Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion. Springfield: Acorn Books, 2002, pp. 110-11; 121-136.
    • Vincent M. Rue, Ph.D., Post Abortion Trauma: Controversy, Diagnosis & Defense (Lewisville, TX: Life Dynamics, 1994), 40.
    • Lenore Terr, Too Scared to Cry (New York: Basic Books, 1990). See especially chapter 13 concerning examples of post-traumatic reenactment.
    • Reardon, Aborted Women, Silent No More, op. cit. (introduction, no. 1) 81.


  • Anxiety over Fertility and Childbearing Issues
    • Blumberg BD, Golbus MS, Hanson KH. The psychological sequelae of abortion performed for a genetic indication. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 1975;122:799-808, p. 806.
    • White-Van Mourik MCA, Connor JM, Ferguson-Smith MA. The psychological sequelae of a second trimester termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormality over a two year period. Birth Defects: Original Articles Series 1992;28:61-74, pp. 69-70.
    • Jones OW, Penn NE, Shuchter S, Stafford CA, Richards T, Kernahan C, Gutierrez J, Cherkin P. Parental response to mid-trimester therapeutic abortion following amniocentesis. Prenatal Diagnosis 1984;2:249-256, p. 254.
    • Iles S, Gath D. Psychiatric outcome of termination of pregnancy for foetal abnormality. Psychological Medicine 1993 May;232:407-13, p. 411.


  • Disruption of the Bonding Process with Present or Future Children
    • Garton J. The cultural impact of abortion and its implications for a future society. In: Mannion M, editor. Post-Abortion Aftermath. Kansas City: Sheed and Ward, 1994: 88-99; p. 91.
    • Ney P, Peeters A. Hope Alive: Post Abortion and Abuse Treatment. A Training Manual for Therapists. Victoria, B.C.: Pioneer Publishing, 1993; pp. 29-33.
    • Elliott JP, Multifetal reduction of triplets to twins improves perinatal outcome. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 1994 July;171(1):278.
    • McKinney MK, Tuber SB, Downey JI. Multifetal pregnancy reduction: psychodynamic implications. Psychiatry Winter 1996;59(4):393-407; p. 393.
    • Raphael B. The Anatomy of Bereavement. New York: Basic Books, 1983.
    • Kent I, Greenwood RC, Loeken J, Nicholls W. Emotional sequelae of elective abortion. BC Medical Journal 1978 April;20(4):119-9; p. 118.
    • Mattinson J. The effects of abortion on a marriage. Ciba Foundation Symposium 1985;115:165-77.
    • Brown D, Elkins TE, Larson DB. Prolonged grieving after abortion: a descriptive study. Journal of Clinical Ethics 1993 Summer; 4(2):118-23; p. 120.
    • Ney P, Peeters A. Hope Alive: Post Abortion and Abuse Treatment. A Training Manual for Therapists. Victoria, B.C.: Pioneer Publishing, 1993, p. 28.
    • Pierce L. Abortion attitudes and experiences in a group of male prisoners. Newsletter of the Association for Interdisciplinary Research in Values and Social Change 1994 January/February;6(2):1-8; p. 8.
    • Bittman S, Zalk Rosenberg S. Expectant Fathers (1978). Reprinted. New York: Hawthorn Books, 1980.


  • Survival Guilt: ...the decision boiled down to a sorrowful conclusion: "It's me or you, and I choose me."
    • Kent I, Greenwood RC, Loeken J, Nicholls W. Emotional sequelae of elective abortion. BC Medical Journal 1978 April; 20(4):118-9; p. 118.
    • Torre-Beuno A. Peace After Abortion. San Diego, California: Pimpernel Press, 1997; p. 43.
    • Naziri D, Tzavarus A. Mourning and guilt among Greek women having repeated abortions. Omega: Journal of Death & Dying 1992-1993;26(2):137-44; p. 139.
    • Thorn V. Project Rachel: Faith in action, a ministry of compassion and caring. In Post-Abortion Aftermath, ed. Mannion M, Kansas City, MO: Sheed and Ward, 1994: 144-63; p. 160.
    • Beverly Raphael, The Anatomy of Bereravement (New York: Basic Books, 1983), 238.
    • White-Van Mourik MCA, Connor JM, Ferguson-Smith MA. The psychological sequelae of a second trimester termination of pregnancy for fetal abonormality over a two year period. Birth Defects: Original Aricles Series 1992;28:16-74, p. 274.
    • Rothman Barbara Katz. The Tentative Pregnancy: How Amniocentesis Changes the Experience of Motherhood. Revised. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1993, pp. 522.
    • Rue, V. The Psychological realities of induced abortion. In Post-Abortion Aftermath, ed. M Mannion. Kansas City: Sheed and Ward, 1994b, pp. 27-28.


  • Development of Eating Disorders
    • De Puy, C and D Dovitch. The Healing Choice: Your Guide to Emotional Recovery After an Abortion. N.Y.: Fireside, 1997; p. 58.
    • Michels N. Helping Women Recover From Abortion. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1988, p. 47.
    • Theresa Burke with David C. Reardon. Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion. Springfield: Acorn Books, 2002.


  • Other Self-Punishing or Self-Degrading Behaviors: Alcohol and Drug Abuse, abusive relationships, promiscuity, failing to take care of yourself medically or deliberately hurting yourself emotionally and/or physically
    • Reardon D. Substance Abuse Subsequent to Abortion. Presented to the Society of Catholic Social Scientists, Second Annual Conference, 1994 November 4.
    • Reardon DC , Ney PG. Abortion and subsequent substance abuse. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 2000 February; 26(1):61-75; p. 61
    • Ervin P. Women Exploited: the other victims of abortion. Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, 1985; pp.31, 33.
    • Coleman PK. Reardon DC, Cougle JR. Child developmental outcomes associated with maternal history of abortion using the NLSY data. Archives of Women’s Mental Health 2001;3(4)Supp.2:104.
    • Brende JO. Fragmentation of the personality associated with post-abortion trauma. Newsletter of the Association for Interdisciplinary Research in Values and Social Change July/August 1995;8(3):1-8; p. 5.
    • Speckhard A. The Psycho-Social Aspects of Stress Following Abortion. Kansas City, MO: Sheed & Ward, 1987; p. 51.
    • Ney P, Peters A. Hope Alive: Post Abortion and Abuse Treatment. A Training Manual for Therapists. Victoria, B.C.: Pioneer Publishing, 1993, p. 171.


  • Brief Reactive Psychosis: an episode of drastically distorted reality within two weeks of the abortion
    • Melinda Tankard Reist, Giving Sorrow Words ( Sydney: Duffy & Snellgrove, 2000).
    • Theresa Burke with David C. Reardon. Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion. Springfield: Acorn Books, 2002.

KEYPOINTS:

These 80+ separate studies, along with my personal interviews with post-abortive women and my own experience with the aftermath of abortion points me to the personal conclusion that abortion could be a traumatic enough event in a young woman’s life to carry her onto the path of eating disorders as a way to cope with the emotional fall-out from that choice.

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