Study of Prenatal Maternal Mental Health Impact on Child Development in Babies With Congenital Heart Disease Requiring Neonatal Surgery

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how prenatal maternal mental health affects the neurodevelopment of children born with congenital heart disease CHD requiring neonatal open-heart surgery. The study focuses on children diagnosed in the womb with complex cyanotic heart defects that may lead to rapid oxygen shortages after birth. It aims to understand the relationship between prenatal maternal psychological distress and child development at age one, including the role of sociodemographic and medical factors, as well as paternal or co-parent mental health. This observational study follows participants from the third trimester of pregnancy until the child reaches 12 to 18 months old. Expectant mothers undergo three psychological assessments the first after 28 weeks of pregnancy, the second after the babys surgery during hospitalization, and the third when the child is one year old. Fathers or co-parents complete self-reports during the prenatal period. Infant neurodevelopmental and behavioral evaluations occur at the one-year visit, assessing cognition, language, motor skills, and social behavior. Participants will attend multiple visits for psychological and developmental assessments conducted by licensed professionals, including standardized self-report questionnaires and clinical interviews for mothers. Child evaluations are performed by pediatric neuropsychologists using validated tools with French norms. Researchers measure maternal mental health symptoms and the childs development using established scales. The study tracks outcomes such as maternal distress and infant cognitive and motor abilities, with follow-up continuing through the first year of life.

Prenatal Maternal Mental Health and Neurodevelopment in Congenital Heart Disease