This unregistered trial (n=134) was a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial of sub-anaesthetic ketamine for the prevention of postpartum depression in women undergoing elective caesarean sections, which found that ketamine significantly reduced depression scores at two and four weeks postpartum.
This synthetic trial has been added to our database because a psychedelic paper (about a clinical trial) references this trial, but no (live) registration can be found.
The study evaluated the efficacy of a single sub-anaesthetic dose of intravenous ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) administered during the induction of general anaesthesia for elective caesarean sections. Participants were randomised to receive either ketamine alongside a sedative or a higher dose of sedative alone as a control.
The primary outcome was measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at two and four weeks following delivery. Results indicated that the ketamine intervention group exhibited significantly lower depression scores compared to the control group at both follow-up intervals, suggesting a potential preventative effect against postpartum depression.
Nesdonal 1-2 mg/kg plus ketamine 0.5 mg/kg IV during anesthesia induction for caesarian section.
Sub-anesthetic ketamine dose administered with Nesdonal during induction of general anesthesia.
Nesdonal 3-5 mg/kg IV during anesthesia induction for caesarian section.