Maternal Expectations on Labor Analgesia and Risk of Postpartum Depression: An Observational Study

University of Padova

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Expectations; Labor Analgesia; Postpartum Depression (PPD)

Treatments: Procedure: Epidural analgesia; Procedure: Spinal analgesia for labour pain; Other: No neuraxial analgesia

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07292649

AOP 3794 (Other Identifier)

6311/AO/25

Details and patient eligibility

About

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is defined as the development of depression at any time during the first year after childbirth¹. Its prevalence ranges from 15% to 20%. It can manifest with symptoms such as depressed mood, loss of interest and energy, insomnia, anxiety, and may even lead to suicidal ideation. The consequences are numerous, both physical and psychological, with long-term repercussions on the mother-infant bond, family dysfunction, and the development of emotional and cognitive disorders in children. The etiology of PPD is multifactorial, but numerous recent studies have focused on the role of labor pain and its management with labor analgesia techniques. The aim of the present study is therefore to assess whether there is a difference in the incidence of PPD between parturients whose expectations regarding labor analgesia were met ('expectations met' group) versus those whose expectations were unmet.

Enrollment: 3,640 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Signed informed consent
• Planned vaginal delivery (spontaneous or induced)
• Pregnancy
• Age > 18 years

Exclusion criteria

• Allergy to local anesthetics
• Language barrier
• Contraindications to labor analgesia
• Delivery by Cesarean section
• Known history of psychiatric disorders (including major depression)

Trial design

3,640 participants in 2 patient groups

Expectations met (Intended = Received)

Description:

Participants whose prenatal intention regarding labor analgesia matched what they received (includes Intention Yes/Received Yes and Intention No/Received No).

Treatment:

Other: No neuraxial analgesia

Procedure: Spinal analgesia for labour pain

Procedure: Epidural analgesia

Expectations unmet (Intended ≠ Received)

Description:

Participants whose prenatal intention did not match the analgesia actually received (includes Intention Yes/Received No and Intention No/Received Yes).

Treatment:

Other: No neuraxial analgesia

Procedure: Spinal analgesia for labour pain

Procedure: Epidural analgesia