Maternal Distress and Infant Social Withdrawal (ADBB) Following Infant Cardiac Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: Mothers and infants are exposed to multiple stresses when cardiac surgery is required for the infant. This study reviewed infant responsiveness using a standardized objective observational measure of social withdrawal and explored its association with measures of maternal distress.

Methods: Mother-infant pairs involving infants surviving early cardiac surgery were assessed when the infant was aged two months.