Researchers find that severe heart defects in children can cause anxiety

Studies from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health reveal that children with severe congenital heart defects have double the risk of developing anxiety than others with a mild form of the condition.

The study showed that out of the 198 eighteen month old children, 58 were diagnosed with a severe heart defect and were found to have twice the chance of developing anxiety compared to health children. They added that maternal anxiety and depression helps explains some of the cases of anxiety in this group.

Children with mild or moderate heart defects showed no signs of anxiety or other internalizing problems. Previous studies from the institution found that children six months old with moderate or severe congenital heart defects show a higher risk of emotional reactivity, for instance irritability and frequent and powerful crying.

A study by the National Institute of Mental Health shows that nearly 40 million people in the U.S. suffer from anxiety disorders including panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.