Intraoperative Esketamine and Postpartum Depression Among Women With Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Li Ren, Ting Zhang, B Zou, Xiaomei Su, Yuan Tao, Jixing Yang, Fangfang Lv, Peining Li, Fei Peng, Guodong Wu
Obstetric Anesthesia Digest November 18, 2025 DOI: 10.1097/01.aoa.0001171036.71757.fb (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized clinical trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | New mothers who had cesarean birth |
| Intervention | Esketamine |
| Topics | Depression Esketamine |
| Keywords | Postpartum depression Randomized controlled trial Incidence geometry Depression economics Clinical trial Postpartum period Obstetrics Pregnancy Pediatrics Cesarean delivery |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Esketamine may reduce the risk of postpartum depression following cesarean birth, but prior randomized clinical trials have shown mixed results. |
Abstract
( JAMA Network Open . 2025;8(2):e2459331. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.59331) Postpartum depression (PPD) is a widespread condition affecting about 17.7% of new mothers globally, with an even higher incidence of 21.4% reported in China. Cesarean birth (CB) appears to increase the risk of developing PPD compared to vaginal births. Given the growing recognition of esketamine, a derivative of ketamine, as a rapid-acting antidepressant, its potential use in PPD prevention has become a subject of interest. While prior randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have shown mixed results, there has been limited real-world evidence of its efficacy in typical clinical settings. The objective of this study was to examine the practical impact of esketamine in reducing the risk of PPD following CB.