Table 2.
Studies in meta-analysis by correct comparison group and prior mental health
| Study (by correct comparison group) | Mental health outcome(s) measure used | Did abortion precede mental health outcome? | How was prior mental health controlled? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Never pregnant | |||
| Dingle et al. 2008 [28] | Lifetime measures of depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol misuse and dependence, and marijuana misuse and dependence with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) for DSM-IV disorders | No, not necessarily | Covariates of self-report anxious and depressive symptoms at age 14 |
| No Abortion | |||
| Coleman et al. 2009 [26] | Lifetime measures of alcohol abuse, depression, and anxiety with the Modified version of Composite International Diagnostic Interview Schedule (CIDI) for DSM-III-R disorders | No, not necessarily | It was not controlled |
| Coleman et al. 2005 [27] | Did use alcohol at any point during current pregnancy (that ended in childbirth) | Yes | It was not controlled |
| Fergusson et al. 2008 [35] | Alcohol dependence, anxiety disorders, depression, and suicidal ideation with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) for DSM-IV disorders | Yes | Covariates of pre-pregnancy anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, at age 15 and number of mental health problems in prior data collection period |
| Pedersen 2007 [29] | Alcohol abuse with a cut-off between 9–10 on Alcohol Use Disorders Identification; Single item question on the use of marijuana at any point in previous 12 months | Yes | Covariate of pre-pregnancy depression at approximately 12 and 7 years before the pregnancy event |
| Pederson 2008 [23] | Depression with a cut-off between 8 and 9 on Kandel and Davies’ Depressive Mood Inventory | Yes | Covariate of pre-pregnancy depression at one time point |
| Rees & Sabia 2007 [30] | Depression as measured by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Schedule- Short Form (CIDI-SF) | Yes | Covariate of pre-pregnancy depression two years before outcome |
| Taft & Watson 2008 [32] | Depression as measured by a score of 10 or greater on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10) | Yes | Covariate of pre-pregnancy depression as reported by doctor four years before outcome |
| Delivery | |||
| Coleman et al. 2009 [18] | Was there a day in the last month in which consumed 5 or more alcoholic beverages? | Yes | It was not controlled |
| Coleman et al. 2002 [19] | Use of alcohol or marijuana at any point during current pregnancy that just ended in childbirth | Yes | It was not controlled |
| Coleman et al. 2002 [20] | Outpatient psychiatric treatment for ICD-9 anxiety states and composite of various ICD-9 depressive states from California Medicaid records in four years after pregnancy | Yes | Excluded women with psychiatric admission 12–18 months before pregnancy event |
| Cougle et al. 2003 [21] | Depression with a score of 16 or greater on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD) | Yes | Covariate of pre-pregnancy locus of control at one time point |
| Gissler et al. 1996 [22] | Suicide according to Finnish death records in year after pregnancy | Yes | It was not controlled |
| Reardon et al. 2003 [24] | Composite of various psychiatric admissions for depressive disorders from California Medicaid records in four years after pregnancy | Yes | Excluded women with psychiatric admission 12–18 months before pregnancy event |
| Reardon et al. 2002 [25] | Suicides from California Department of Health Services death certificates in 8 years after pregnancy | Yes | It was not controlled |
| Steinberg & Russo 2008/NCS [31] | Anxiety disorders of PTSD and social anxiety with Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) for DSM-III-R disorders | Yes | Covariate of pre-pregnancy anxiety at any time before pregnancy |
| Unintended birth | |||
| Coleman 2006 [33] | Alcohol use in past 12 months; Marijuana use in past 30 days | Yes | It was not controlled |
| Cougle et al.2005 [34] | Generalized anxiety with a non-validated measure of anxiety symptoms | Yes | Excluded women with pre-pregnancy anxiety at any point before pregnancy |
| Gilchrist et al. 1995 [36] | Deliberate self-harm classified by ICD-8 codes | Yes | Excluded women with any prior psychiatric diagnoses |
| Reardon & Cougle 2002 [37] | Depression with a score of 16 or greater on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD) | Yes | Covariate of pre-pregnancy locus of control at one time |
| Reardon et al. 2004 [38] | Score of 2 or more on an 11-item non-validated scale of alcohol use; Any use of marijuana in past 30 days | Yes | Covariates of pre-pregnancy locus of control and self-esteem at one time |
| Schmiege & Russo 2005 [39] | Depression with a score of 16 or greater on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD) | Yes | It was not controlled |
| Steinberg & Russo 2008/NSFG [31] | Anxiety symptoms with a non-validated measure of anxiety symptoms | Yes | Covariate of pre-pregnancy anxiety at any time before pregnancy |
Notes: This table shows the correct classification of studies by comparison group. The first column presents the studies by the comparison group actually used in the meta-analysis. The second column presents how the mental health outcome(s) were measured in each study. The third column depicts whether the study measured mental health after the abortion, and the final column shows whether and how prior mental health was controlled for in analyses. Steinberg and Russo appears twice because this paper included two studies in which different comparison groups were used.