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TASK FORCE ON MENTAL HEALTH AND ABORTION: A SINGLE ABORTION IS NOT A THREAT TO WOMEN'S MENTAL HEALTH Summary Mental health problems are not a direct result of choosing to have an abortion, an American Psychological Association task force has concluded. Elective abortion is a difficult decision for most women. Symptoms of sadness, grief and feelings of loss are common. But there is no evidence that abortion itself is the cause, according to the report. Some people cite “post-abortion syndrome” as a consequence of having an abortion, although there is no medical diagnosis with this name. So-called post-abortion syndrome has been likened to post-traumatic stress disorder: a lasting depression, often resulting in substance abuse and sometimes even suicide attempts. The APA task force found that research to date does not show a direct connection between a single elective abortion and such mental health issues, The APA task force reviewed all peer-reviewed studies in English conducted since 1989. They recommended that better-designed research be conducted in the future, so that women may make the best decisions for their overall health when deciding whether to terminate a pregnancy. The task force presented its report to the APA’s governing body in August 2008. Read the Report Executive Summary Read the Report on Mental Health and Abortion Also of Interest APA Press Release: http://www.apa.org/releases/abortion-report.html