Is There a Behavioral Phenotype for Children With Congenital Heart Disease?

Potential pathways to maladjustment in children with congenital heart disease are outlined and discussed. However, the literature has been equivocal here and reasons for this are discussed, together with important considerations for future research. Recently, some consistency and a behavioral phenotype have been emerging. Work is outlined which suggests that the primary difficulties of these children lie within competence domains (pertaining to social, attention, thought, and activity functioning) rather than with mood disturbances per se. Longitudinal research suggests that a multifactorial model is required to understand why some, and not other, children with the same defects encounter such problems. While medical and surgical factors are highlighted as important, a central role for maternal and family influences is evidenced by this research. Implications for intervention are highlighted.