NCT03167905

Brief Summary

Postnatal depression affects about 10-15% of women after childbirth. Approximately 3-5% of women experience a moderate-to-severe depression that requires medical attention. This study aims to investigate the implication of pain relief choice in reducing the postnatal depression of women who deliver their babies.

Trial Health

75
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
881

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for phase_2

Timeline
8mo left

Started Jun 2017

Longer than P75 for phase_2

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
active not recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress93%
Jun 2017Dec 2026

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 2, 2017

Completed
28 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 30, 2017

Completed
16 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 15, 2017

Completed
4.1 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

July 19, 2021

Completed
5.5 years until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 31, 2026

Expected
Last Updated

April 18, 2025

Status Verified

March 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

4.1 years

First QC Date

May 2, 2017

Last Update Submit

April 15, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

Anesthesia, ObstetricalEpidural anesthesiaPostnatal depressionPersistent pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • The incidence of major postnatal depression in both groups

    Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score\>=13

    6-10 weeks after delivery

  • The incidence of (clinically significant, probable) postnatal depression in both groups

    Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score\>=10

    6-10 weeks after delivery

Secondary Outcomes (11)

  • The incidence of acquiring post-delivery persistent pain in both groups

    6-10 weeks after delivery

  • Pain vulnerability in both groups (1)

    Upon recruitment until 6-10 weeks after delivery

  • Pain vulnerability in both groups (2)

    Upon recruitment until 6-10 weeks after delivery

  • Pain vulnerability in both groups (3)

    Upon recruitment till end of first stage of labor (1 day)

  • Psychological vulnerability in both groups (1)

    Upon recruitment until 5 days after delivery

  • +6 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Epidural group

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients are assigned to receive epidural delivery system (fentanyl and ropivacaine) for labour as pain relief option.

Device: Epidural delivery systemDrug: FentanylDrug: Ropivacaine

Non-epidural group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Patients are assigned to receive entonox (laughing gas), meperidine (pethidine) or remifentanil (Ultiva) for labour as pain relief option.

Drug: EntonoxDrug: MeperidineDrug: Ultiva

Interventions

Epidural delivery system for maintenance of labour epidural analgesia using 0.1% ropivacaine (amide local anaesthetic) with 2mcg/ml fentanyl (opioid) as maintenance solution.

Epidural group

Entonox will be given upon request in non-epidural group.

Also known as: Laughing gas
Non-epidural group

Intramuscular pethidine (75mg/1.5ml) will be given upon request in non-epidural group.

Also known as: Pethidine
Non-epidural group
UltivaDRUG

Intravenous patient controlled remifentanil (20-40mcg/ml) is only given when the patient rejects or cannot receive pethidine and entonox in non-epidural group..

Also known as: Remifentanil
Non-epidural group

Epidural delivery system for maintenance of labour epidural analgesia using 0.1% ropivacaine (amide local anaesthetic) with 2mcg/ml fentanyl (opioid) as maintenance solution.

Epidural group

Epidural delivery system for maintenance of labour epidural analgesia using 0.1% ropivacaine (amide local anaesthetic) with 2mcg/ml fentanyl (opioid) as maintenance solution.

Epidural group

Eligibility Criteria

Age21 Years - 50 Years
Sexfemale
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Healthy adult (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1 and 2) parturients at term (36 weeks gestation or more) (nulliparous and multiparous);
  • With a singleton fetus.

You may not qualify if:

  • Multiple pregnancies;
  • Non-cephalic fetal presentation;
  • Obstetric complications (e.g. pre-eclampsia, uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes);
  • Elective and urgent caesarean section (not from delivery suite).

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

KK Women's and Children's Hospital

Singapore, 229899, Singapore

Location

Related Publications (4)

  • Tan HS, Tan CW, Sultana R, Chen HY, Chua T, Rahman N, Gandhi M, Sia ATH, Sng BL. The association between epidural labour analgesia and postpartum depression: a randomised controlled trial. Anaesthesia. 2024 Apr;79(4):357-367. doi: 10.1111/anae.16178. Epub 2023 Nov 21.

  • Chan JCY, Sultana R, Mathur D, Tan CW, Sng BL. The association of pain and psychological vulnerabilities with postpartum pain catastrophizing: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Can J Anaesth. 2025 Apr;72(4):603-614. doi: 10.1007/s12630-025-02920-8. Epub 2025 Mar 20.

  • Ayuby NA, Ang MQ, Sultana R, Tan CW, Sng BL. Investigating the association between labor pain and cessation of breastfeeding. Sci Rep. 2024 Dec 28;14(1):31361. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-82850-5.

  • Tan CW, Tan NY, Sultana R, Tan HS, Sng BL. Investigating the association factors of acute postpartum pain: a cohort study. BMC Anesthesiol. 2023 Jul 25;23(1):252. doi: 10.1186/s12871-023-02214-w.

Related Links

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression, PostpartumAgnosia

Interventions

EntonoxNitrous OxideMeperidineRemifentanilFentanylRopivacaine

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Puerperal DisordersPregnancy ComplicationsFemale Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy ComplicationsUrogenital DiseasesDepressive DisorderMood DisordersMental DisordersPerceptual DisordersNeurobehavioral ManifestationsNeurologic ManifestationsNervous System DiseasesSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Nitrogen OxidesGasesInorganic ChemicalsNitrogen CompoundsOxidesOxygen CompoundsIsonipecotic AcidsAcids, HeterocyclicHeterocyclic CompoundsPiperidinesHeterocyclic Compounds, 1-RingPropionatesAcids, AcyclicCarboxylic AcidsOrganic ChemicalsAnilidesAmidesAniline CompoundsAmines

Study Officials

  • Ban Leong Sng, FANZCA

    KK Women's and Children's Hospital

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 2
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: Cross over or switch to the other group of analgesia is allowed.
Sponsor Type
OTHER GOV
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 2, 2017

First Posted

May 30, 2017

Study Start

June 15, 2017

Primary Completion

July 19, 2021

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Last Updated

April 18, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-03

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations