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Mind the heart - emotional and behavioural difficulties in Danish children and adolescents with ventricular septal

Julie L Hejl1,2, Sara H Lau-Jensen3,4, Tamsin Ford5

  • 1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.

Nordic Journal of Psychiatry
|March 30, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Children with ventricular septal defects (VSDs) experience more emotional and behavioral issues than peers. Many require mental health support, but few receive it, indicating a critical need for early intervention and increased awareness.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Child Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are common congenital heart defects (CHDs).
  • Limited research exists on emotional and behavioral outcomes in children with VSDs.
  • Adults with VSDs face psychiatric and social challenges, necessitating early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess emotional and behavioral difficulties in children with VSDs.
  • To compare these difficulties with normative data.
  • To evaluate mental health support access and unmet needs in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional national survey of Danish children (5-17 years) with VSDs (n=704).
  • Utilized the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for parent-reported outcomes.
  • Compared results with age- and sex-stratified normative data and analyzed mental health support utilization.

Main Results:

  • Children with VSDs showed higher parent-reported difficulties across all SDQ scales versus norms.
  • Girls reported more hyperactivity, conduct, peer, and prosocial issues; boys reported more emotional challenges.
  • Only ~50% of children with probable psychiatric disorders received mental health support, with 65.3% of parents reporting unmet needs.

Conclusions:

  • Children with VSDs exhibit significant emotional and behavioral difficulties.
  • There are critical gaps in mental health support for these children.
  • Increased awareness and targeted interventions are crucial for this vulnerable population.
Abstract

Keywords:
Congenital heart defectsSDQemotional and behavioural difficultiesliaison

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