Nord J Psychiatry. 2026 Mar 30:1-13. doi: 10.1080/08039488.2026.2648317. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: While much is known about the risks associated with complex congenital heart defects (CHDs), research on the emotional and behavioural outcomes in children with ventricular septal defects (VSDs), the most common form of CHDs, remains limited. Evidence of increased psychiatric morbidity and social challenges in adults with VSDs underscores the importance of addressing emotional and behavioural difficulties earlier in life.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional national survey of Danish children aged 5-17 years (born between 2007 and 2019) with VSDs (n = 704, 248 surgically treated), using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to compare parent-reported emotional and behavioural difficulties with normative data stratified by age and sex. We examined whether children with probable psychiatric disorders (per SDQ algorithms) had received mental health support and whether parents reported unmet support needs.
RESULTS: Parent-reported difficulties were higher across all SDQ scales compared to normative data. When stratified by sex, girls especially exhibited more hyperactivity/inattention, conduct, peer, and prosocial difficulties, while boys showed more emotional challenges. Only approximately half of children with a probable psychiatric disorder had received mental health support, and 65.3% of their parents reported unmet needs.
CONCLUSION: Children with VSDs exhibited significantly more emotional and behavioural difficulties compared to the general population, highlighting critical gaps in mental health support and the need for greater awareness and targeted interventions.
PMID:41910231 | DOI:10.1080/08039488.2026.2648317
