[Medical indication for abortion based on psychological distress - Gaps in professional expertise and healthcare provision: A qualitative interview study with physicians].
{"title":"[Medical indication for abortion based on psychological distress - Gaps in professional expertise and healthcare provision: A qualitative interview study with physicians].","authors":"Esther Braun, Mirjam Faissner, Christin Hempeler","doi":"10.1055/a-2951-8412","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>In Germany, abortion after 12 weeks is only permissible based on a medical indication. The study explores how physicians evaluate this indication in cases of psychological distress without foetal diagnoses.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>17 semi-structured interviews with physicians were conducted and analysed using qualitative content analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants reported psychological distress due to unintended pregnancies in the context of mental illness, social difficulties, and sexualised violence. They described substantial legal and clinical uncertainties regarding the medical indication, as well as unclear responsibilities between gynaecology and psychiatry. Considerable access barriers were reported.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings suggest gaps in expertise and service provision for medical indications based on psychological distress. Closer collaboration between gynaecology and psychiatry, improved training and legal reforms appear necessary.</p>","PeriodicalId":20711,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatrische Praxis","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9000,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Psychiatrische Praxis","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2951-8412","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Aim: In Germany, abortion after 12 weeks is only permissible based on a medical indication. The study explores how physicians evaluate this indication in cases of psychological distress without foetal diagnoses.
Method: 17 semi-structured interviews with physicians were conducted and analysed using qualitative content analysis.
Results: Participants reported psychological distress due to unintended pregnancies in the context of mental illness, social difficulties, and sexualised violence. They described substantial legal and clinical uncertainties regarding the medical indication, as well as unclear responsibilities between gynaecology and psychiatry. Considerable access barriers were reported.
Conclusion: The findings suggest gaps in expertise and service provision for medical indications based on psychological distress. Closer collaboration between gynaecology and psychiatry, improved training and legal reforms appear necessary.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
