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Medication and Procedural Abortion and Risk of Psychotropic Medication Use
Julia R Steinberg1, Thomas M Laursen2,3, Øjvind Lidegaard4
1Department of Family Science, University of Maryland, College Park.
JAMA Psychiatry
|July 22, 2026
Summary
This study found no significant increase in psychotropic medication use after abortion when accounting for statistical significance. However, there was a decreased risk of psychotropic medication use more than five years post-abortion.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- No studies have investigated the association between abortion method and psychotropic medication use.
- Psychotropic medication use is an indicator of mild mental health issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if medication or procedural abortions are linked to an increased risk of psychotropic medication use.
- To analyze the association between abortion methods and subsequent psychotropic medication prescriptions.
Main Methods:
- A Danish population-based cohort study followed females aged 12-38 undergoing first-trimester elective abortions (medication or procedural) between 2000-2018.
- Psychotropic medication redemptions were tracked from one year prior to abortion up to December 31, 2018, emigration, or death.
- Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated using adjusted regression models with Bonferroni correction for multiple tests.
Main Results:
- Of 67,390 females, 33,793 had medication abortions and 33,597 had procedural abortions.
- Initially, small increased risks for psychotropic medication use were observed in the first year post-abortion (IRR 1.10 for medication, 1.09 for procedural) using conventional significance levels.
- After Bonferroni correction, these initial increases were not statistically significant, while decreased risks observed more than 5 years post-abortion (IRR 0.85 medication, 0.83 procedural) remained significant.
Conclusions:
- Small increased risks of psychotropic medication use in the first year after abortion were not statistically significant after adjustment.
- A significant decrease in psychotropic medication use was observed more than five years after both medication and procedural abortions.
- Further research is recommended to validate and interpret these findings on abortion method and mental health indicators.
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