Maternal Reaction and Psychological Coping After Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease

A diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) during fetal life or infancy can be devastating for parents, resulting in significant psychological stressors. The goals of this study were to (1) assess maternal resolution and adaptation to a new diagnosis of CHD, (2) explore how maternal resolution and adaptation relates to psychological well-being and (3) evaluate whether specific illness parameters impact resolution status.

This cross-sectional study evaluated resolution to diagnosis in the first 6 months of life for mothers of children with CHD. Mothers completed a Reaction to Diagnosis Interview (RDI) and psychological surveys assessing stress, depression, and coping skills. The RDI invites parents to discuss the diagnosis, changes in their thoughts and feelings since the diagnosis, and reflections on why they think they have a child with a medical condition. A chart review of the child recording illness parameters was also performed.

Thirty-six mothers participated in this study. Twelve of their children had a prenatal diagnosis of CHD (33.3%). Seventeen mothers (47.2%) were unresolved to the diagnosis of CHD in their child, regardless of the timing or severity of the diagnosis. Twenty-four participants (68.6%) had significant or highly significant life stress and 9 participants (25.7%) had clinical concerns or met criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Nineteen mothers (55.9%) were at risk for clinical depression. Mothers unresolved to the diagnosis had higher rates of post-traumatic stress than those resolved to the diagnosis (47.1% vs. 10.5%, p = 0.03). Mothers of infants with a prenatal diagnosis of CHD reported significantly lower rates of life stress despite higher severity of heart defects (p = 0.02).

Mothers of infants with CHD have similar proportions of resolution to diagnosis compared to mothers of children with other chronic diseases. They experience a high rate of symptoms of life stress, post-traumatic stress and clinical depression. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress are higher in mothers unresolved to the diagnosis. Identification of those at highest risk for poor adaptation to the diagnosis may allow for targeted psychological support services for those most vulnerable.