Observational studyJournal of anesthesia2026
Association between the effectiveness of labor epidural analgesia and postpartum depression: a prospective cohort study.
Observational study in Journal of anesthesia, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Epidural analgesia supplemented with lidocaine reduces maternal fever during labor: a randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Trial
- Obstetric anesthesia and postpartum mental health: implications from delivery to long-term recovery.Anesthesia and pain medicine · 2026Review
- Beyond labor epidural analgesia: a multidisciplinary approach for postpartum depression.Journal of anesthesia · 2026Article
- Rethinking the association between LEA and PPD: beyond statistical significance to patient experience.Journal of anesthesia · 2026Article
- Determinants of labor epidural analgesia uptake and associations with maternal-neonatal outcomes: a stratified cohort study with risk prediction modeling.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2026Article
- Beyond pain relief: reframing labor analgesia as part of comprehensive, psychologically informed perinatal care.Journal of anesthesia · 2026Article
- Understanding mothers' lived experiences of postpartum depression: a qualitative phenomenological study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
13 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposePostpartum depression (PPD) is a major health issue affecting maternal and neonatal well-being. Labor pain is a significant psychophysiological stressor, and its association with PPD is not completely understood. This study investigated the relationship between the effectiveness of labor epidural analgesia (LEA), measured as percentage improvement in pain (PIP), and the risk of PPD at six weeks postpartum.
methodsIn this prospective observational cohort study, 156 women were enrolled. Participants self-selected whether to receive LEA. Pain intensity was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale, and PPD symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) on postpartum day 3 and at six weeks postpartum.
resultsA moderate positive correlation was observed between LEA satisfaction and PIP (r
conclusionWhile the use of LEA provided effective pain relief, it was not associated with the risk of PPD. Maternal perception of pain relief may have greater psychological relevance than the objective degree of pain reduction. Comprehensive psychosocial and medical care remains essential.
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Registered trials
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