Evaluation of the level of anxiety and depression in parents of children and adolescents presenting with suspected congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease refers to structural and functional anomalies in the cardiovascular system that have been present since birth or detected during or after birth. A structural defect in the heart can be defined as congenital heart defect, congenital cardiac anomaly or cardiovascular malformation. Congenital heart disease is a chronic condition affecting physical activity and standards of life in the children after diagnosis. The effects of congenital heart disease are not limited to children and the whole family members are affected to a certain degree. Restricted physical activity status in these children and social stigma pose problems not only for children but also for the families. All family members are affected in case of any illness in the family or when an uncertainty occurs related to the family members. Suspicion of a chronic disease in a child is associated with certain mental and psychosocial risks in the parents and other family members in the short term. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate how this condition affects psychological profile (depression and anxiety) of the mothers of children with suspected congenital heart disease. The study included mothers (n=103) of children that were referred to our clinic with suspected congenital heart disease. The mothers who were not informed of congenital heart disease constituted the study group (n=50) and the mothers who were informed of congenital heart disease constituted the control group (n=53). The subjects in the study group and the control group were administered the Beck Depression Inventory to evaluate the level of depression and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory to evaluate the level of anxiety. The results were evaluated by a psychiatrist. The mean score achieved in the Beck Depression Inventory was 13.26±8,04 in the study group and 12.11±7,94 in the control group. Although the mean score was higher in the study group compared to the control group, the results were not significant in terms of depression (p>0.05).The mean score achieved in STAI 1 was 42.08±8,85 in the study group and 42.64±9,99 in the control group and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of the level of state-trait anxiety (p>0.05).The mean score achieved in STAI 2 reflecting continuous anxiety level was 42.24±7,64 in the study group and 46.13±7,68 in the control group, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of the level of continuous anxiety (p>0.05). The mean anxiety score in the Beck anxiety scale was 17.88±8,80 in the study group and 13.28±10,69 in the control group, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of the level of anxiety (p<0.05). In conclusion, suspicion of a chronic disease in any family member threatens mental health of other family members, decreases the quality of life and causes changes in psychological profiles in other family members. In case of a suspected chronic disease, particular attention must be paid to physical examination and providing information to the families. Key Words: Congenital heart disease, mother, depression, anxiety