OBJECTIVEThe present study was designed to investigate the influence of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) on the mentality and behavior in children, and to compare post operative mentality and behavior in children receiving interventional therapy and congenital heart surgery.

METHODMentality and behavior of 232 children suffering from CHD were examined with Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) edited by XU Tao-yuan in 1992 and 100 sex, age, education and achievement-matched children with pneumonia were enrolled as controls.

RESULTSThe mentality and behavior abnormal rates of the boys and girls suffering from CHD were significantly higher than those of controls (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The behavior abnormities of the boys presented as depression, social flinch, physical complains, assault and violate rules. Whereas the girls presented as depression, social flinch, physical complains and violate rules. The total cursory mark of postoperative check result of the interventional and surgical children, both in girls and in boys, were significantly lower than those of the preoperative children (P < 0.05). The total and assault cursory mark of postoperative check result of children treated with interventional therapy were significantly lower than those of children treated with the surgical operations (P < 0.05). The abnormal rates of mentality and behavior positively correlated with the disease course.

CONCLUSIONSCHD is associated with increased abnormal mentality and behavior of the children. Early treatment, especially the interventional therapy can significantly improve the mentality and behavior of the children with CHD.