Abstract
A psychiatric and psychological follow-up assessment of 21 patients accepted for abortion on psychiatric grounds, 21 patients denied abortion on psychiatric grounds and 11 patients accepted for abortion on medical grounds was carried out.
A history of prior psychiatric illness appeared to be a pointer towards therapeutic termination of pregnancy when psychiatrically disturbed pregnant women were referred for assessment. Despite a high incidence of short-lived guilt reactions, this particular group of patients generally reported a beneficial effect on their lives 2 years later.
Many, but not all, of the psychiatrically disturbed patients who were refused abortion became reconciled to the decision.
The medical group who were aborted tended to view the operation as an unfortunate necessity.
A decision for or against termination of pregnancy must take account of many factors—previous psychiatric history, present mental state, patient's attitude towards the pregnancy, marital adjustment, personality structure and medical condition
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