Electronic Letters to:

PAPERS:
Patricia Casey, Margaret Oates, Ian Jones, and Roch Cantwell
Invited commentaries on... Abortion and mental health disorders
The British Journal of Psychiatry 2008; 193: 452-454 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
*eLetters: Submit a response to this article

Electronic letters published:

[Read eLetter] Abortion is also a medical issue
Renzo Puccetti, Maria Cristina Del Poggetto, Relational Psychotherapy Institute, Pisa, Italy   (10 December 2008)

Abortion is also a medical issue 10 December 2008
Top
Renzo Puccetti,
Medical Doctor
European Medical Association Research Working Group, via Del Poggio, 16 56011 Calci (PI) Italy,
Maria Cristina Del Poggetto, Relational Psychotherapy Institute, Pisa, Italy

Send letter to journal:
Re: Abortion is also a medical issue

renzopuccetti{at}virgilio.it Renzo Puccetti, et al.

Sir,

in her commentary on Abortion and mental health disorders Patricia Casey arguments abortion is not a psychiatric or scientific issue, but mostly a matter of morality and ethics (1). Surely there is something true in author’s perspective. Nevertheless abortion is provided in many countries as a medical act intended to preserve women’s psychological health. Actually no study has demonstrated that abortion is therapeutically effective in ameliorating women’s mental health when long term follow-up is adopted. Prevalence of major depression, anxiety and panic disorder among UK female general practices is estimated at 13,2%, 11,3% and 10,3% respectively (2). If esteems indicating exposure to abortion accounts for 1.5% to 5.5% of the overall rate of mental disorders are correct (3), then hundreds of thousands women could be at higher risk for mental disorder. Therefore the need for an exhaustive information regarding possible risks and benefits to mental health provided in the position statement on women’s mental health in relation to induced abortion released on March 2008 by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (4) appears to be justifiable and in accord to Fergusson’s results. As any other patient women have an interest in being informed about all the implications of their choices (5). At the same time we believe that providing an exhaustive information represents a duty that no physician can forget.

References: 1. Casey P, Oates M, Jones I, Cantwell R. Invited commentaries on... Abortion and mental health disorders. Br J Psychiatry. 2008 Dec;193(6):452 -4. 2. King M, et al. Prevalence of common mental disorders in general practice attendees across Europe. Br J Psychiatry. 2008 May;192(5):362-7. 3. Fergusson DM, Horwood LJ, Boden JM. Abortion and mental health disorders: evidence from a 30-year longitudinal study. Br J Psychiatry. 2008 Dec;193(6):444-51. 4. The Royal College of Psychiatrists. Position Statement on Women’s Mental Health in Relation to Induced Abortion 14th March, 2008. at <http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/member/currentissues/mentalhealthandabortion.aspx>. Accessed 8th December, 2008. 5. Ziegler DK, Mosier MC, Buenaver M, Okuyemi K. How much information about adverse effects of medication do patients want from physicians? Arch Intern Med. 2001 Mar 12;161(5):706-13.