Pregnancy loss and psychiatric disorders in young women: an Australian birth cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundRecent evidence has linked induced abortion with later adverse psychiatric outcomes in young women.AimsTo examine whether abortion or miscarriage are associated with subsequent psychiatric and substance use disorders.MethodA sample (n=1223) of women from a cohort born between 1981 and 1984 in Australia were assessed at 21 years for psychiatric and substance use disorders and lifetime pregnancy histories.ResultsYoung women reporting a pregnancy loss had nearly three times the odds of experiencing a lifetime illicit drug disorder (excluding cannabis): abortion odds ratio (OR)=3.6 (95% CI 2.0–6.7) and miscarriage OR=2.6 (95% CI 1.2–5.4). Abortion was associated with alcohol use disorder (OR=2.1, 95% CI 1.3–3.5) and 12-month depression (OR=1.9, 95% CI 1.1–3.1).ConclusionsThese findings add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that pregnancy loss per se, whether abortion or miscarriage, increases the risk of a range of substance use disorders and affective disorders in young women.