Giving mums medical ketamine after birth reduces risk of postnatal depression, landmark study finds

GIVING mothers a ketamine-like drug immediately after birth reduces their risk of depression, a study shows.

Esketamine — which is made from the party drug — should be offered to women who are at risk of the blues after pregnancy, Chinese researchers said.

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They estimated that one major depressive episode can be avoided in every five mums given the drug.

Dr Shuo Wang, of Peking University First Hospital, said: “A single low dose of esketamine after childbirth decreases major depressive episodes by about three quarters.

“The antidepressant effect of low dose esketamine seems to last longer in mothers with prenatal depression than in the general population with depression.”

Prenatal depression — also known as antenatal depression — is a common condition that affects around one in 10 pregnant women.

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It causes bad moods, irritability and a loss of interest in other people and the world around you.

If left untreated, symptoms can get worse and continue after the baby is born, which is known as postnatal depression.

Treatments include talking therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy and antidepressants if symptoms are severe.

The study, published in The BMJ, looked at how giving esketamine to women with mild prenatal depression affected their chances of developing postnatal depression.

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They tracked symptoms in 361 pregnant women from June 2020 to August 2022 to see how the drug affected them after they gave birth.

The mums were interviewed 18 to 30 hours after giving birth and again after seven and 42 days, with one group receiving the drug and another given a placebo.

Around 6.7 per cent of those on esketamine experienced a major depressive episode during the 42 days, compared to more than a quarter of those on the placebo.

Those given the drug also had lower depression scores at seven and 42 days.

Esketamine has treatment potential for preventing postpartum depression

Dr Camilla NordUniversity of Cambridge

British experts who were not involved in the research hailed the “important” and “well-powered” study for showing the potential benefits of esketamine.

Dr Rupert McShane, of the University of Oxford, said: “ A single dose is extraordinarily safe, effective and cheap for women at risk of worsening depression after childbirth.” 

Dr Camilla Nord, of the University of Cambridge, added: “This study provides a strong indication that esketamine has treatment potential for preventing postpartum depression.”