Mental health needs of postpartum women with congenital heart disease

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Developing a programme to address the mental health needs of pregnant and postpartum women with congenital heart disease

  • IRAS ID

    353734

  • Contact name

    Karin Eli

  • Contact email

    karin.eli@warwick.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Warwick

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 8 months, 17 days

  • Research summary

    The overall aim of the project is to improve mental health resources in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) services within the NHS, through a programme of emerging/early-stage policy engagement. This project follows up on the recently completed Participatory Research Project, "Mental health among pregnant/postpartum women with congenital heart disease: a participatory research project" (PI: Karin Eli). The earlier project had established the need to conduct a quantitative study to inform NHS policy on addressing the mental health needs of this population. In the proposed project, we will administer a combined questionnaire with three sections (demographics; healthcare experiences specific to pregnant/postpartum women with congenital heart disease; validated postpartum depression and PTSD instruments). The largest ACHD centres across the UK (18 in total) will take part in the study. ACHD patients who have given birth to a live baby/babies in the last 12 months will be invited to participate. We will analyse the data to develop the first quantitative evidence base, world-wide, on the mental health experiences and needs of postpartum women with congenital heart disease.

  • REC name

    East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    25/EM/0083

  • Date of REC Opinion

    16 May 2025

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion