Changes

The task force found that some studies indicate that some women do experience sadness, grief and feelings of loss following an abortion, and some may experience "clinically significant disorders, including depression and anxiety." However, the task force found "no evidence sufficient to support the claim that an observed association between abortion history and mental health was caused by the abortion per se, as opposed to other factors."<ref name=APArelease/>[

The task force found that some studies indicate that some women do experience sadness, grief and feelings of loss following an abortion, and some may experience "clinically significant disorders, including depression and anxiety." However, the task force found "no evidence sufficient to support the claim that an observed association between abortion history and mental health was caused by the abortion per se, as opposed to other factors."<ref name=APArelease/>[

The APA Task Force's conclusions were limited to cases of a single, elective abortion of adult women and did not address abortions for teenagers (representing about 17% of all abortions), nor did it address the effects of multiple abortions on women, which account for about half of all abortions in the United Stateds.<ref name=wsj1>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121868309379939765.html Study Fails to Find Link On Abortion, Mental Health] By STEPHANIE SIMON, The Wall Street Journal August 14, 2008; Page D6. accessed 8/15/2008</ref>  The lead author, Brenda Major told Reuters that "The evidence regarding the relative mental health risks assocaited with multiple abortions is more uncertain."<ref name="reuters1">[http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSN1346057620080813 "One abortion no threat to mental health: group"] Reuters. Wed Aug 13, 2008 4:59pm EDT accessed 8/15/2005.</ref>  Women with prior mental health problems, women who worried about stigma or secrecy, and those with low self-esteem, the Task Force concluded, were more likely to develop mental health problems after an abortion.<ref name="reuters1"/>

The APA Task Force's conclusions were limited to cases of a single, elective abortion of adult women and did not address abortions for teenagers (representing about 17% of all abortions), nor did it address the effects of multiple abortions on women, which account for about half of all abortions in the United Stateds.<ref name=wsj1>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121868309379939765.html Study Fails to Find Link On Abortion, Mental Health] By STEPHANIE SIMON, The Wall Street Journal August 14, 2008; Page D6. accessed 8/15/2008</ref>  The lead author, Brenda Major told Reuters that "The evidence regarding the relative mental health risks assocaited with multiple abortions is more uncertain."<ref name="reuters1">[https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSN1346057620080813 "One abortion no threat to mental health: group"] Reuters. Wed Aug 13, 2008 4:59pm EDT accessed 8/15/2005.</ref>  Women with prior mental health problems, women who worried about stigma or secrecy, and those with low self-esteem, the Task Force concluded, were more likely to develop mental health problems after an abortion.<ref name="reuters1"/>

In 1969, four years before ''Roe v Wade'', the American Psychological Association adopted as part of its official policy the political position that abortion is a civil right.<ref name=hdavid>David, H. [http://web.uvic.ca/~apadiv34/contents/PEPB/PEPB253.pdf "Retrospectives" From APA Task Force to Division 34"] Population & Environmental Psychology Bulletin 1999, 25(3):2-3.</ref> The petition was

In 1969, four years before ''Roe v Wade'', the American Psychological Association adopted as part of its official policy the political position that abortion is a civil right.<ref name=hdavid>David, H. [http://web.uvic.ca/~apadiv34/contents/PEPB/PEPB253.pdf "Retrospectives" From APA Task Force to Division 34"] Population & Environmental Psychology Bulletin 1999, 25(3):2-3.</ref> The petition was

=== Brenda Major ===

=== Brenda Major ===

Immediately after the 2008 Task Force Report was published, evidence came to light that the chair of the Task Force, Brenda Major, has been violating the APA's own ethics rules on data sharing by refusing to share her own data on mental health effects associated with abortion, gathered under a federal grant, with other researchers.<ref name=ThrockMajor>[http://wthrockmorton.com/2008/08/14/allegations-cloud-apa-mental-health-and-abortion-report/ Allegations cloud APA Mental Health and Abortion report] by Warren Throckmorton</ref><ref name=ertelt1>Steven Ertelt <http://www.lifenews.com/nat4135.html Researcher: APA Chair Withholding Info on Abortion's Mental Health Risks> LifeNews.com  August 15, 2008</ref><ref><http://www.dakotavoice.com/2008/08/following-truth-where-ever-it-leads.html></ref>  Brenda Major is a member of the APA "Society for the Psychology of Women (Division 35)<ref name=Bvitae>http://www.psych.ucsb.edu/~major/lab/vita.html  Curriculum Vitae Brenda Major, Ph.D.]</ref>

Immediately after the 2008 Task Force Report was published, evidence came to light that the chair of the Task Force, Brenda Major, has been violating the APA's own ethics rules on data sharing by refusing to share her own data on mental health effects associated with abortion, gathered under a federal grant, with other researchers.<ref name=ThrockMajor>[http://wthrockmorton.com/2008/08/14/allegations-cloud-apa-mental-health-and-abortion-report/ Allegations cloud APA Mental Health and Abortion report] by Warren Throckmorton</ref><ref name=ertelt1>Steven Ertelt <https://www.lifenews.com/nat4135.html Researcher: APA Chair Withholding Info on Abortion's Mental Health Risks> LifeNews.com  August 15, 2008</ref><ref><http://www.dakotavoice.com/2008/08/following-truth-where-ever-it-leads.html></ref>  Brenda Major is a member of the APA "Society for the Psychology of Women (Division 35)<ref name=Bvitae>http://www.psych.ucsb.edu/~major/lab/vita.html  Curriculum Vitae Brenda Major, Ph.D.]</ref>

which describes its mission as that of providing "an organizational base for all feminists, women and men of all national origins, who are interested in teaching, research, or practice in the psychology of women."[http://www.apa.org/about/division/div35.html] She is also an advisor to the post-abortion counseling group called Exhale<ref name=Bvitae/> which has served 15,000 women seeking post-abortion counseling.[http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=the_abortion_counseling_conundrum]

which describes its mission as that of providing "an organizational base for all feminists, women and men of all national origins, who are interested in teaching, research, or practice in the psychology of women."[http://www.apa.org/about/division/div35.html] She is also an advisor to the post-abortion counseling group called Exhale<ref name=Bvitae/> which has served 15,000 women seeking post-abortion counseling.[http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=the_abortion_counseling_conundrum]