The Limitations of Post Abortion Research - David C. Reardon. While there have been many studies regarding the emotional aftermath of abortion, very little has been firmly established. It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to complete a study in this field that would be generally conclusive and above reproach. Some abortion reactions may fit into the model of complicated bereavement or pathological grief. Indeed, it appears likely that women experience a wide variety of psychological reactions to abortion.
Reactions also vary over time.
Women who are initially filled with grief and self-reproach may subsequently find emotional healing, whereas women who initially coped well may subsequently find themselves shattered. The average period of denial reported by the survey population was 63 months. The effectiveness of standardized questionnaires has also been called into doubt, since these research instrument may be inadequate for uncovering repressed feelings. He concluded that an underlying sense of loss and pain can only be reliably identified in a clinical setting. The same criticism holds to this day.