During the 1st year of the Abortion Act, 1967, sixty-five patients were seen for a psychiatric opinion. Of these 50% were single, 36% married and 14% separated or divorced. Referral was by the general practitioner in 60%, gynaecologist 36% and 'other' 4%. Mean length of psychiatric history was 18-9 months. Half had had unhappy childhoods and family relationships were frequently disturbed. Four ...