Abstract
Objective. To investigate the psychosocial functioning of children, adolescents and young adults at least nine years after surgical repair of a congenital heart defect in childhood. Design. Comparative, cross-sectional, descriptive study. Setting. Academisch Ziekenhuis Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Method. Psychological questionnaires and testing of 498 children, adolescents and young adults with congenital heart defects on behaviour, emotional, intellectual and social functioning, and interviews. Results. Children and adolescents with congenital heart defects showed significantly more emotional and behavioural problems than same-aged reference peers. However, the young adult congenital heart defect patients obtained significantly more favourable results on emotional functioning than peers from normative reference groups. Their results showed favourable outcomes on social functioning (school/employment and leisure time activities). No significant differences were found between different cardiac diagnostic groups regarding emotional functioning. Conclusion. It is advised to give more psychosocial counselling to young children after heart surgery and to their parents.
| Translated title of the contribution | Psychosocial functioning of children, adolescents and young adults after surgery for congenital heart defects in childhood |
|---|---|
| Original language | Dutch |
| Pages (from-to) | 1126-1130 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde |
| Volume | 140 |
| Issue number | 21 |
| State | Published - May 1996 |
| Externally published | Yes |