Relationships among depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation in parents of children with congenital heart defects: A dynamic triad

doi:10.5498/wjp.v16.i1.114555

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Jan 19, 2026 (publication date) through Feb 14, 2026

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World Journal of Psychiatry

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2220-3206

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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA

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World J Psychiatry. Jan 19, 2026; 16(1): 114555
Published online Jan 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i1.114555

Relationships among depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation in parents of children with congenital heart defects: A dynamic triad

Josephat M Chinawa, Daberechi K Adiele, Awoere T Chinawa, Edmund N Ossai, Jude T Onyia, Vivan O Onukwuli, Paschal U Chime

Josephat M Chinawa, Daberechi K Adiele, Jude T Onyia, Vivan O Onukwuli, Paschal U Chime, Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu 01129, Nigeria

Awoere T Chinawa, Department of Community Medicine, Enugu State University College of Medicine, Enugu 01129, Nigeria

Edmund N Ossai, Department of Community Medicine, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Abakaliki 40001, Ebonyi, Nigeria

Co-corresponding authors: Josephat M Chinawa and Paschal U Chime.

Author contributions: Chinawa JM conceived and designed this study; Chinawa JM, Adiele DK, Chinawa AT, Ossai EN, Onyia JT, Onukwuli VO, and Chime PU helped in the critical revision of the article; Ossai EN performed the data analysis/interpretation.

Institutional review board statement: This information was obtained from the Research and Ethics Committee of the University Teaching Hospital of Study with institutional review board number NHREC/05/01/2008B-FWA00002458-1RBO0002323, whereas verbal informed consent was obtained from the mothers who brought their children to the health facility.

Informed consent statement: Informed consent was obtained from a parent and/or legal guardian for study participation. In addition, all methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations in the Declaration of Helsinki.

Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.

STROBE statement: The authors have read the STROBE Statement-checklist of items, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the STROBE Statement-checklist of items.

Data sharing statement: Data are provided within the manuscript.

Corresponding author: Josephat M Chinawa, PhD, Academic Fellow, FACC, FESC, Professor, Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, 10 Thinkers Estate Enugu, Enugu 01129, Nigeria. josephat.chinawa@unn.edu.ng

Received: September 23, 2025
Revised: September 27, 2025
Accepted: November 4, 2025
Published online: January 19, 2026
Processing time: 99 Days and 19.3 Hours

Abstract

BACKGROUND

There is a possible link between depression and anxiety about suicidal ideation among parents of children with congenital heart disease (CHD).

AIM

To document the effects of depression and anxiety on parental suicidal ideation among children with CHD and the associated factors.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study among 50 parents of children with CHD who attended the Cardiac Clinic of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku-Ozalla. Information was obtained using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

RESULTS

A greater percentage of parents whose child had a heart defect had anxiety symptoms (50.0%) than did those whose child had no heart defect (24.0%), and the difference in proportions was statistically significant (χ² = 7.250, P = 0.007). A greater percentage of parents whose child had a heart defect had suicidal ideation (28.0%) than did those whose child had no heart defect (8.0%), and the difference in proportions was statistically significant (χ² = 6.775 P = 0.009). A positive correlation was elicited between anxiety and suicide ideation, and this correlation was statistically significant (r = 0.748, P < 0.001). A positive correlation was elicited between depression and suicidal ideation scores, and this was statistically significant (r = 0.617, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

There is strong interconnectivity between anxiety and depression with suicidal ideation. There is an urgent need to start screening for the mental health of parents of children with CHD to avert the high propensity of complete suicide. In addition, policy makers may introduce a national clinical practice guideline on the importance of psychotherapy and mental health screening and targeted interventions for parents of children with CHD.

Keywords: Parents; Children; Congenital heart disease; Suicidal ideation; Depression; Anxiety

Core Tip: High scores for anxiety have been reported among parents of children with congenital heart disease (CHD). To date, studies on whether there is any connection between depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation among parents of children with CHD are rare. The parents of children with CHD tend to become anxious and depressed and are withdrawn following the diagnosis of heart disease. There are several frameworks that aptly describe the interconnectedness of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation among parents of children with CHD.