New Clinical Trial Targets Mental Health for Families Facing CHD

The BOND trial—short for Building Optimal Strategies to Enhance Parent and Infant Wellbeing in Congenital Heart Disease—will recruit 350 families across 17 hospitals. Led by the Pediatric Heart Network and co-led by Cincinnati Children’s, the study aims to move beyond surgical success to address the high rates of anxiety, depression, and trauma reported by parents navigating cardiac intensive care.

Researchers will evaluate two primary interventions: the HeartGPS program, which provides psychological support via telemedicine for parents diagnosed during pregnancy, and a new clinical guideline intended to facilitate breastfeeding during intensive care stays. By utilizing an adaptive platform structure, the study allows scientists to refine or replace strategies in real-time, rather than waiting years for results.

Nadine Kasparian, who founded the Heart and Mind Wellbeing Center at Cincinnati Children’s, emphasizes that current medical systems often fail to account for the emotional toll of a prenatal diagnosis. The study seeks to prove that early intervention—beginning before birth—can alter long-term developmental trajectories for infants while improving maternal mental health. William Mahle of the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta is overseeing the breastfeeding component, which aims to leverage the nutritional and bonding benefits of nursing to nurture infant growth.

Participants will be monitored from the point of prenatal diagnosis through their child’s first birthday. The data collected will include clinical care metrics, maternal health assessments, and biological samples. Ultimately, the trial intends to establish new standards for prenatal counseling and mental health prevention, shifting the definition of success from merely surviving a heart condition to thriving as a family.