Dr. Stotland was trying to suggest that the idea that abortions cause depression often enough to enact legislation is incorrect. It's unfortunate that she chose poor language. The quote in question:
Quote:
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But meticulous research shows that there is no causal relationship between abortions and mental illnesses.
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After quite a bit of looking, no study performed on a correlation between abortion and depression has been conclusive. Not one. So we'll have to break this down.
The hormonal effects of abortion are often similar to those of childbirth. Estrogen and progesterone are pumped out in crazy amounts. When birth is given or the child is aborted, those levels can crash suddenly. Established research links peripartum depression to that drop. I'm sur you're aware from my old thread about the menstrual cycle that a change in these hormones effects mood. These drops can effect anything from sleep to stress. Now we put 2 and 2 together. If the drop in hormones after birth can cause depression, it's not unreasonable to come to the conclusion that the same drop in hormones after an abortion can lead in the same direction. If some of the brave and wonderful women of TFP who have gone through an abortion are wanting to share, they may tell about how they cried, felt restless, had low energy, couldn't focus, lost sleep, etc. All of those are signs of depression.
BTW,
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Anti-abortion activists have even made up a mental disease: “abortion trauma syndrome.” Recently I told Congress that the association recognizes no such disorder.
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Strawman. "abortion trauma syndrome" is a casual label given to describe PTSD of a certain cause. PTSD is recognized by her association.
Again, and for the last time,
/end threadjack