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The Cardiac Psychiatry program provides specialized psychological services to children and families facing challenges related to pediatric heart disease and its treatment. Hospitalizations, catheterizations, and operations can be stressful experiences for both children and their families. Adjusting to a new or long-term illness, preparing for procedures or surgery, or helping siblings or relatives cope, can create unique stressors for families. Feelings of depression or anxiety are common, and may tax family coping resources.
Parent consultation and short term interventions for children and their family members can minimize the negative impact of the stressful experience, promote health coping, and help the child and family return to their prior state of emotional well-being. The Cardiac Psychiatry program works with the Cardiology Team to provide education around the relationship between cardiac illness and psychological distress.
Lourival Baptista, M.D., Director of the Pediatric Psychiatry Consultation Service at Children's Hospital Boston, is a child and adolescent psychiatrist available to help families cope when their child is in the hospital. Rachel Tunick, PhD., a staff child psychologist, is available to work with children and their families in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Either Dr. DeMaso or one of his Cardiac Psychiatry staff is available to provide inpatient and outpatient consultations designed to promote the healthy coping of children and their families who must contend with significant pediatric heart disease.
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