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Longitudinal findings from a Norwegian case-cohort study on internalizing problems in children with congenital heart

Kim Stene-Larsen1, Ragnhild Eek Brandlistuen, Henrik Holmstrøm

  • 1Department of Psychosomatics and Health Behavior, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. kim.stene-larsen@fhi.no

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|September 22, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Severe congenital heart defects (CHDs) are linked to increased anxiety in toddlers. Maternal distress and child reactivity at 6 months did not explain this association at 18 months.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are common birth abnormalities.
  • Internalizing problems, such as anxiety, can emerge in early childhood.
  • Understanding factors influencing child mental health is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between CHD severity and internalizing problems in 18-month-old toddlers.
  • To explore the impact of maternal distress and infant emotional reactivity on these problems.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective data linkage from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study and a national CHD registry.
  • Inclusion of 198 toddlers with CHDs from a cohort of 47,692.
  • Assessment via maternal questionnaires on child emotional reactivity, internalizing problems, and maternal distress.

Main Results:

  • A significant association was found between severe CHDs and anxiety symptoms at 18 months.
  • Children with severe CHDs were twice as likely to exhibit anxiety compared to controls.
  • No association was observed with sleep problems or general emotional reactivity; maternal factors did not fully explain the anxiety.

Conclusions:

  • Findings suggest a direct link between severe CHDs and heightened anxiety in toddlers.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
  • Clinical interventions should consider addressing anxiety and parent-child interactions in affected children.
Abstract

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