Personality, Life Situation, and Communication: A Study of Habitual Abortion

Abstract

Within the framework of a psychosomatic, interdisciplinary investigation of spontaneous and habitual abortion, 18 habitual aborters (3 or more consecutive abortions) were followed in weekly psychiatric interviews during one pregnancy. The research methods of this follow-up by the participating disciplines were briefly described. The personalities of these aborters and their life situations and communication at the time of their contact with us were discussed. Of these 18 aborters 15 terminated successfully at term, indicating that psychotherapy can effectively interrupt the abortive processes. Two cases are reported as examples of habitual aborters, one successful under psychotherapy and one a failure.