Mental Health Implications of Abortion and Abortion Restriction: A Brief Narrative Review of U.S. Longitudinal Studies

This review provides a brief overview of mental health outcomes after abortion and denial of abortion. PubMed and PsycInfo databases were searched for longitudinal epidemiological studies performed in the United States. The literature suggests that women who obtain abortions do not have worse mental health outcomes related directly to abortion and that those denied access to abortion have worse initial adverse psychological outcomes. Given restricted abortion access in many states as a result of the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, mental health implications surrounding abortion and abortion denial are critical to understand; women with mental illness may face disproportionately restricted access to abortion.