[Frustration and body image in children with and without congenital cardiopathy]. / Frustración y esquema corporal en niños con y sin cardiopatía congénita.

The aim of the present study was to determine the existence of differences on the type of response to frustration and disintegration of body image among children with congenital heart diseases (hospitalized and out patients) with or without symptomatology and children without heart disease. The study was performed in the outpatient clinic and the pediatric cardiology ward of the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez". Two tests were used: The Rosenzweig picture frustration test for children (PFT) and the human figure drawing (HFD) of Elizabeth Koppitz. No differences were found regarding the type of response to frustration, differences between groups were present in only two emotional items of the HFD. We conclude that children with congenital heart disease have special capabilities that enable them to respond to illness in adaptative ways.