NCT05217251

EEG Alterations of Uterine Contractions in the First Stage of Labor Predicting Postpartum Depression

The Values of Electroencephalography (EEG) Alterations of Uterine Contractions in the First Stage of Labor Predicting Postpartum Depression: a Prospective Cohort Study

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 330 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Zhujiang Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Severe uterine contractions in labor can trigger emotional disorders including postpartum depression in women during the puerperium. Numerous studies have shown that resting frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) asymmetry is closely related to depression. Therefore, the investigators hypothesize that the frontal alpha asymmetry in EEG during uterine contractions in the first stage of labor be associated with the risk level of postpartum depression. The objective of this research is to investigate, in a 1-year period, the incidence of postpartum depression in natural birth mothers in relation to frontal alpha asymmetry in EEG during uterine contractions and resting state.

Detailed description

Severe uterine contractions in labor can trigger emotional disorders including postpartum depression in women during the puerperium. It is characterized by lack of motivation and behavioral changes, potentially producing serious negative consequences for offspring. In addition, EEG alpha asymmetry is one of the commonly studied biomarkers for depression. There are multiple previous studies regarding the symmetry of EEG in left and right brain hemispheres, especially at frontal electrodes. Besides, there are many other EEG indicators that predict depression which are also likely to be strong contributors to postpartum depression. The objective of study is to investigate if there is any association between EEG alterations of uterine contractions in the first stage of labor and factors that are associated with postpartum depression.

Conditions

• Postpartum Depression

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	frontal alpha asymmetry in EEG	frontal alpha asymmetry based on EEG monitoring of uterine contractions in the first stage of labor. The power spectra will be log-transformed and averaged across the frontal left (FL) channels (FP1, F3, F7) and frontal right (FR) channels (FP2, F4, F8). A higher power spectrum value indicates lower neural activity. Frontal asymmetry (FA) power scores are calculated as follows, FA = (FR-FL)/(FR+FL). A positive FA value shows greater neural activity in the left frontal lobe than right frontal neural activity (relative left frontal asymmetry), while its negative value shows oppositely.

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-03-01
• Primary completion: 2023-02-01
• Completion: 2024-12-01
• First posted: 2022-02-01
• Last updated: 2022-03-23

Locations

1 site across 1 country: China