NCT02823418

Neuraxial Labor Analgesia and the Incidence of Postpartum Depression

Impact of Neuraxial Labor Analgesia on the Incidence of Postpartum Depression: a Prospective, Observational, Multicenter Cohort Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 599 (actual)
• Sponsor: Peking University First Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 34 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 15% of women during the first year after giving birth, and is common across cultures. The etiology of postpartum depression is not totally clear. The severe pain experienced during childbirth was reported to be associated with the development of postpartum depression. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate whether use of neuraxial labor analgesia can reduce the incidence of postpartum depression.

Detailed description

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 15% of women during the first year after giving birth, and is common across cultures. In postpartum Chinese women, the reported incidence ranged from 6.5% to 29.5%. The etiology of postpartum depression is not totally clear. Identified risk factors include previous maternal blues, unplanned pregnancy, lack of marital or social support, and previous psychiatric illnesses. Furthermore, the severe pain experienced during childbirth was reported to be associated with the occurrence of postpartum depression. A recent study of the investigators found that use of epidural analgesia during labor was associated with decreased risk of postpartum depression. However, several limitations existed in that study and further evidence is needed to reconfirm the finding. The purpose of the present study is to reevaluate whether use of neuraxial labor analgesia can reduce the incidence of postpartum depression.

Conditions

• Parturition
• Analgesia, Obstetrical
• Depression, Postpartum

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	No neuraxial labor analgesia	Neuraxial analgesia will not be performed. Analgesics will be prescribed by the obstetricians according to routine practice.
PROCEDURE	Neuraxial labor analgesia	Epidural or combined spinal-epidural labor analgesia will be performed when the cervix is dilated to 1 cm or more and continued until the cervix is fully dilated to 10 cm.

Timeline

• Start date: 2014-08-01
• Primary completion: 2015-05-29
• Completion: 2017-04-25
• First posted: 2016-07-06
• Last updated: 2021-07-26