Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42525067›Full record

ArticlePediatric cardiology2026

Parental Experiences and Psychological Support Needs Following Fetal Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease: A Qualitative Study.

Catherine Quinn, Martin Dempster, Nicola Doherty, Frank Casey

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Pediatric cardiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Catherine QuinnSchool of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, David Keir Building, 18-30 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 5BN, Northern Ireland, UK. cquinn103@qub.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2725-015X
Martin DempsterSchool of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, David Keir Building, 18-30 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 5BN, Northern Ireland, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9499-3186
Nicola DohertyDepartment of Health, Regional Trauma Network, Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG), Derry, Northern Ireland, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-3774-6208
Frank CaseyPaediatric Cardiology Department, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, 274 Grosvenor Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9084-6023

Funding

HSC R&D Division, Public Health Agency, All-Island Congenital Heart Disease Research Network SPI/5671/21
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Parents who receive a fetal congenital heart disease (CHD) diagnosis commonly report elevated psychological distress, including symptoms of anxiety and depression. Emerging research also highlights associations between maternal psychological distress and impaired fetal neurodevelopment. This study aimed to explore parents' emotional and psychological experiences, and psychological support needs, following a fetal CHD diagnosis, to generate evidence to inform the future development of a psychologically informed antenatal intervention. Fourteen parents who had received a fetal diagnosis of CHD participated in semi-structured interviews, conducted either in person or online. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four interconnected themes were identified: (1) Suspended in Uncertainty; (2) Layers of Grief; (3) Finding a Way Through; and (4) Psychologically Safe Support. Together, these themes describe the emotional impact of a fetal CHD diagnosis, parents' efforts to cope and adapt, and the need for flexible, accessible psychological support during the antenatal period. Parents experience significant psychological challenges following a fetal CHD diagnosis, alongside unmet needs for tailored psychological support during the antenatal period. Clinical psychology support should therefore be integrated into fetal cardiology services to improve parental wellbeing and support optimal outcomes for both parents and infants.

Indexed as

AntenatalCongenital heart diseaseFetal diagnosisParental wellbeingPsychological supportQualitative research

Identifiers

PMID42525067

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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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 Socratic graph.