A cohort study on psychosocial adjustment and psychopathology in adolescents and young adults with congenital heart disease

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Freitas, Isabel (Author) Other; Castro, Marta (Author) Other; Sarmento, Sofia (Author) Other; Moura, Cláudia (Author) Other; Viana, Victor (Author) FCNAUP; Areias, José (Author) Other; Areias, Maria (Author) Other

Journal

Title: BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL

Vol. 3 No. 1

Pages: [1-9]

ISSN: 0959-535X

Publisher: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 43 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 45 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

CORDIS: Health sciences > Medical sciences > Medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-1F5

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2012-001138

Abstract (EN): Objectives: Our purpose was to study psychosocial adjustment and psychiatric morbidity of adolescents and young adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). Design: All assessment measures were obtained on a single occasion. Clinical data was obtained through the patient's clinical records. Setting: A teaching and tertiary care facility in Porto, Portugal. Participants: We evaluated 110 CHD patients (62 male) aged from 12 to 26 years (mean=18.00±3.617), 58 cyanotic. All assessment measures were obtained on a single occasion in a tertiary hospital. Demographic information and clinical history were collected. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Questionnaires regarded topics such as social support, family educational style, self-image and physical limitations, a standardised psychiatric interview Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia—Lifetime version (SADS-L), and a self-report questionnaire on psychosocial adjustment, youth self-report or adult self-report. One of the relatives completed an observational version of the same questionnaire (child behaviour checklist (CBCL) or ABCL (adult behaviour checklist)). Results: We found a 21.8% lifetime prevalence of psychopathology, 31.3%, in females, 14.5% in males, showing a somewhat increased proneness in CHD patients. Females also showed worse psychosocial adjustment, with more somatic complaints (u=260 000; p=0.011), anxiety/depression (u=984 000; p=0.002), aggressive behaviour (u=920 500; p=0.001), attention problems (u=1123 500; p=0.027), thought problems (u=1069 500; p=0.010), internalisation (u=869 000; p=0.0) and externalisation (u=1163 000; p=0.05). Patients with severe CHD (u=939 000; p=0.03) and surgical repair (u=719 000; p=0.037) showed worse psychosocial adjustment. Those with poor social support showed more withdrawal (u=557 500; p=0.0) and social problems (u=748 500; p=0.023), and patients with unsatisfactory school performance revealed more anxiety/depression (u=916 000; p=0.02) and attention problems (u=861 500; p=0.007). Conclusions: CHD males with good social support and good academic performance have a better psychosocial adjustment.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

Notes: <a href="http://gateway.isiknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=Alerting&SrcApp=Alerting&DestApp=WOS&DestLinkType=FullRecord&KeyUT=:000315082400004">Indexado na ISI Web of Science</a>