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Psychological distress and styles of coping in parents of children awaiting elective cardiac surgery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 August 2008

Elisabeth M. Utens ,
Herma J. Versluis-Den Bieman ,
Frank C. Verhulst ,
Maarten Witsenburg ,
Ad J.J.C. Bogers  and
John Hess
Elisabeth M. Utens*
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Herma J. Versluis-Den Bieman
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Frank C. Verhulst
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Maarten Witsenburg
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric CardiologyErasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Ad J.J.C. Bogers
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery Cardiothoracic Surgety, Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam, the Netherlands
John Hess
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam, the Netherlands Medizinsiche Herzzentrurn München, Germany
*
E.M. Utens, Ph.D., Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Sophia Children's Hospital, Dr. Molewaterplein 60, 3015 GJ Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Tel: +31–10–4636363; Fax: +31–10–4636803; E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Aims

We sought to assess the level of psychological distress, and the styles of coping of, parents of children with congenital heart disease. The study was based on questionnaires, which were completed, on average, four weeks, with a range from 0.1 to 22.1 weeks, prior to elective cardiac surgery or elective catheter intervention.

Methods

We used the General Health Questionnaire, and the Utrecht Coping List, to compare scores from parents of those undergoing surgery, with scores of reference groups, and with scores of the parents of those undergoing intervention.

Results

Overall, in comparison with our reference groups, the parents of the 75 children un dergoing surgery showed elevated levels of psychological distress, manifested as anxiety, sleeplessness, and social dysfunctioning. They also demonstrated less adequate styles of coping, being, for example, less active in solving problems. With only one exception, no differences were demonstrated in parental reactions to whether cardiac surgery or catheter intervention had been planned. The mothers of the 68 patients who were to undergo cardiac surgery, however, reported greater psychological distress and manifested greater problems with coping than did the fathers.

Conclusion

Elevated levels of psychological distress, and less adequate styles of coping, were found in the parents of patients about to undergo cardiac surgery, especially the mothers, when compared to reference groups. Future research should investigate whether these difficulties persist, and whether this will influence the emotional development of their children with congenital cardiac malformations.

Keywords

Congenital heart diseasepsychologycopingparents
Type
Original Articles
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , May 2000 , pp. 239 - 244
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2000

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