Parents' experiences of receiving their child's diagnosis of congenital heart disease: A systematic review and meta-synthesis of the qualitative literature.

PURPOSE: This systematic review aimed to synthesize qualitative research on parents' psychological experiences following their child's diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD). METHODS: A systematic search of six electronic databases (CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed and Web of Science) was completed, inclusive of all years up to May 2022. Any included articles were synthesized using thematic synthesis and appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Qualitative Checklist. RESULTS: Twenty-six articles were included. Four main themes, and 11 subthemes, emerged from the synthesis. Theme 1 (unpreparedness for the diagnosis) concerned parents' shock, guilt and anger regarding the diagnosis. Theme 2 (the overwhelming reality of CHD) described parental fear about decision-making and the child's prognosis, and the influence of professionals on parents' well-being. Theme 3 (mourning multiple losses) detailed parents' sadness at losing their envisioned pregnancy, birth and parenthood experiences. Theme 4 (redefining hopes to reach an acceptance of CHD) described parents' adjustment to the diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Receiving a child's CHD diagnosis was a uniquely challenging situation for parents. The findings provided insight into the emotions parents experienced and how they adjusted to the diagnosis psychologically. As parents' experiences were significantly influenced by their interactions with professionals, clinicians should offer compassion, validation and clear information throughout the diagnosis process.

Beliefs About One's Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: The Experiences of Self-Injury Questionnaire (ESIQ).

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to develop and validate a measure of self-rated positive and negative beliefs about one's non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), the Experiences of Self-Injury Questionnaire (ESIQ). METHOD: Psychometric properties and validation against NSSI severity and shame were tested in two U.S. and two U.K. samples of individuals who endorsed a history of NSSI. RESULTS: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated five factors. Subscales were labeled Positive Beliefs, Personal Dislike, Interpersonal Concern, Emotional Suppression, and Emotional Expression. The Positive Beliefs Subscale covers beliefs that NSSI is valuable. Scores on this subscale were associated with endorsement of NSSI frequency, NSSI urges, and perceived likelihood of future NSSI. Other subscales showed validity in that they all showed unique effects on outcome indices of NSSI severity or shame. CONCLUSION: The ESIQ shows promise as a brief reliable measure of beliefs about and experiences of NSSI.