APA's Flawed Report on Mental Health and Abortion.(American Psychological Association)

From the earliest days of abortion on demand, the American Psychological Association (APA) has taken a strong position on the question of whether there are mental health consequences from having an abortion. The APA has consistently claimed that research indicates that there are no adverse effects on women and that any negative reports of symptoms, such as sadness and depression, are short-lived.

These claims were based on older studies with poor design and methodology. However, that didn't prevent the APA from drawing firm conclusions that often did not reflect the limited findings of the studies. In other words, the APA has always demonstrated a strong bias in favor of abortion on demand.

But in recent years there have been a number of solid studies, published in peer-reviewed journals, on the question. Most of these researchers estimate that approximately 2030% of women who have abortions will have serious mental health problems.

With the number of such studies growing, the APA was under pressure to "update" its position on what psychological effect abortion may have on women.

The APA produced a report (dated August 13) that was purported to be an "unbiased" assessment of the science on this topic. Unfortunately, the APA Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion did not produce such a report.

According to the APA, "There is no credible evidence that a single elective abortion of an unwanted pregnancy in and of itself causes mental health problems for adult women." The 90-page report is the result of a year-long review of mental health and abortion. What characteristics would a genuinely unbiased report demonstrate?

First, it would be necessary to show that the researchers/writers and the reviewers of the document were chosen in a manner to assure an unbiased result. However, those chosen to do the review have a history of taking strong positions that abortion has no negative effects.