The report is likely to be met with skepticism by those who are opposed to the practice and believe that terminating a pregnancy can trigger depression or other mental illnesses.
Kendall said mental health problems seemed to be linked specifically to unwanted pregnancies rather than abortion.
About 11 percent to 12 percent of women in general suffer from mental health issues like anxiety or depression, but among women with unwanted pregnancies that figure rises to about one-third, he said. For women who later had an abortion, there did not appear to be any further increase in the rate of mental health problems.
“We should be looking at what it is about the unwanted pregnancy stage that is so problematic,’’ he said. “We need to try to get those women help sooner so they’re not put at greater risk.’’
Kendall and colleagues reviewed 44 studies conducted worldwide from 1990 to 2011 that included several million women with unwanted pregnancies. Their sources included national health systems and insurance databases.
They concluded the best predictor of whether a woman would have a psychiatric problem after an abortion was whether she had mental health issues before getting pregnant.
The review was released today by Britain’s Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. It was paid for by the UK’s department of health.
Dr. Kate Guthrie, a spokeswoman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said in a statement it was key that health care staff provide follow-up care to women vulnerable to mental health problems after they terminated their pregnancy.
She was not connected to the review.
