Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Apparently Related to Abortion

Abstract

This case study presents a young woman who developed a severe obsessive-compulsive disorder after a routine medical procedure. It is suggested that this procedure brought back repressed guilt from three abortions and thus led to the onset of symptoms. The case is discussed in relationship to available research and theory.

Abortion issues in psychotherapy.

“…The possibility of a delayed emotional response occurring years later is also suggested (Speckhard & Rue, 1992;McGraw, 1989;Stone-Joy, 1985). Kenyon (1986) noted that a reactive depression may manifest itself during the "birthday" of the child, or the "anniversary" date of the abor-tion.…”

“…Peppers (1987) found that the ambiv-alence in the decision making also can affect the grief and mourning experienced after the abortion. McGraw (1989) found that women who based their decision on what parents or the parmer wanted were at greater risk for a postabortion reaction. Stone-Joy (1985) reported that women who decided to abort in haste, secrecy, and isolation had the greatest desire to stop thinking about the event as quickly as possible and were more likely to experience a greater degree of loss after the abortion.…”

“…Despite the politicized nature of some abortion research, consistent results have been reported in some areas. The psychological reactions following an abortion are influenced by a woman's cultural and religious beliefs, the social and political stigma encompassing abortion, and beliefs surrounding the inception of life (Adler, 1992;Biasco & Piotrowski, 1989;Conklin & OConnor, 1995;Corsaro & Korzeniowsky, 1983;Kenyon, 1986;Olley, 1971;McGraw, 1989;Peppers, 1987;Tentoni, 1995;Turell et al, 1990). On an individual level, the length of gestation, other current stressors in a woman's life, self-efficacy, emotional expressiveness, and perceived social support impact postabortion adjustment, especially given the cultural sanctions against abortion and pregnancy outside of marriage (Gonda & Ruark, 1984;Major et al, 1990;Olley, 1971;Wilmoth, 1992).…”

“…Symptoms of postabortion reaction are typically described as mild feelings of depression (Hafez, 1984;Kenyon, 1986). McGraw (1989) stated that up to 50% of women undergoing abortion will experience some shortterm depression and guilt. The general discomfort of postabortion reaction often stems from three possible areas regarding the abortion experience; (a) physical complaints and emotional stress of the pregnancy and abortion, (b) perception of loss resulting from the abortion, and (c) a role conflict resulting from the perceived conflict surrounding the abortion decision (Speckhard & Rue, 1992).…”

Hoarding pet animals in obsessive-compulsive disorder

“…Patients with both conditions are preoccupied with the integrity of living beings (humans or animals), often believing that something terrible can happen to them by their omission, such as major accidents or disasters in OCD, hunger or poisoning in animal hoarding, and serious diseases in both. They also have strong-held moral values, including repugnance of abortion- and euthanasia-related themes in OCD (12,13) and animal hoarding (14), respectively.…”