title: More Than Just the Heart: Transition and Psychosocial Issues in Adult Congenital Heart Disease.
abstract: Most infants born with congenital heart disease (CHD) are now expected to reach adulthood. However, adults with CHD of moderate or great complexity remain at elevated risk of heart failure, arrhythmias, additional surgeries and interventional procedures, and premature mortality. This creates a need for lifelong specialized cardiac care and leads to 2 sets of potential challenges: (1) the transition from pediatric to adult care and (2) the psychosocial implications of coping with a chronic and often life-shortening medical condition. Many adolescents struggle with the transition to adult care, and mood and anxiety disorders are not uncommon in the adult setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 585 University Avenue, 5-NU-523, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2N2, Canada. Electronic address: adrienne.kovacs@uhn.ca.
authors.forename: Adrienne H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Wytemaweg 8, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Elisabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Utens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005060:Europe; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009656:North America; D060305:Transition to Adult Care; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adult congenital heart disease; Anxiety; Depression; Psychosocial; Transition