Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41776370›Full record

ArticlePediatric research2026

Prenatal maternal psychological distress is associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in toddlers with congenital heart disease.

Yao Wu, Nickie Andescavage, Susan Lauren Weiner, Melissa Liggett, Julius S Ngwa, Anushree Kapse, Kushal Kapse, Caitlin Elizabeth McDermott, Mary T Donofrio, Katherine L Wisner and 3 more

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Article in Pediatric research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Yao WuDeveloping Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Nickie AndescavageDeveloping Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Susan Lauren WeinerDeveloping Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Melissa LiggettPsychology and Behavioral Health, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Julius S NgwaDeveloping Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Anushree KapseDeveloping Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Kushal KapseDeveloping Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Caitlin Elizabeth McDermottDeveloping Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Mary T DonofrioDivision of Cardiology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Katherine L WisnerDeveloping Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
David WesselHospital and Specialty Services, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Adré J du PlessisZickler Family Prenatal Pediatrics Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Catherine LimperopoulosDeveloping Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA. climpero@childrensnational.org.

Funding

Antecedents of Impaired Brain Development in Fetuses with Heart DiseaseR01HL116585 · NHLBI · CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE · PI LIMPEROPOULOS, CATHERINE · 2013 to 2017
$3.8M
NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL116585
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPregnant women carrying fetuses with congenital heart disease (CHD) report high psychological distress. This study examines associations between prenatal maternal distress and 18-month neurodevelopmental outcomes in toddlers with CHD.

methodsWe recruited women with pregnancies complicated by fetal CHD. Maternal anxiety, stress, and depression were measured using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Neurodevelopment at 18 months was assessed using Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III and Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment. Postnatal parenting stress was measured using Parenting Stress Index-Short Form.

resultsWe studied 123 pregnant women (21-39 gestational weeks). Half screened positive for elevated anxiety, 60% for stress, and 34% for depression. Elevated prenatal maternal psychological distress was associated with lower motor scores and increased externalizing behaviors in CHD toddlers, with stronger associations in single-ventricle than two-ventricle CHD. Elevated prenatal maternal distress was associated with increased postnatal parenting stress at 18-month testing, including higher Total Stress, Parental Distress, and Difficult Child scores. Postnatal parenting stress mediated associations between prenatal psychological distress and toddler externalizing behaviors.

conclusionElevated prenatal maternal psychological distress is associated with impaired motor and social-emotional development in toddlers with CHD and persistent postnatal parenting stress. IMPACT: The impact of maternal psychological distress on the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of toddlers with congenital heart disease (CHD) is unknown. This study examines the association between prenatal maternal distress and 18-month neurodevelopmental outcomes in toddlers with CHD. Increased prenatal maternal psychological distress is associated with impaired motor and social-emotional development in toddlers with CHD, as well as persistently elevated parenting stress. Associations between elevated prenatal maternal psychological distress and adverse motor and externalizing outcomes were stronger in toddlers with single-ventricle versus two-ventricle CHD. Identifying early risk factors for neurodevelopmental impairment in CHD toddlers is critical for developing early interventions that reduce maternal distress and improve long-term outcomes.

Identifiers

PMID41776370
PMCPMC13244548

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.