Different Anesthesia Methods on Development of Postnatal Depression After Cesarean Delivery

Childbirth is one of the most painful experiences for a woman. Labor and period of pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of psychiatric disorders for a woman. The demands of pregnancy and childbirth make patients vulnerable to psychiatric disorders such as postpartum depression (PPD), anxiety, and stress disorders. Women with postpartum psychiatric disorders have high mortality rates. The most common postpartum psychiatric disorder is PPD. PPD occurs any time in pregnancy or in the first four weeks after delivery. It may lead to complications such as emotional lability in the mother. This situation may also effect the child.

Postpartum depression (PD) has become the most frequent complication of childbirth. Its prevalence has been estimated as 10%-15% and its formation is affected by several factors such as lack of social support, previous history of depression, and personal vulnerability. There are several studies about PD in the literature, some discuss about the relation of pain and PD, some discuss about the relation of epidural anesthesia and PD. However, there is no study that compares different anesthesia methods (general anesthesia vs spinal anesthesia) on development of postnatal depression after cesarean delivery.

The aim of this study is to compare the different anesthesia methods (general anesthesia vs spinal anesthesia) on development of postnatal depression after cesarean delivery. The secondary aim is to decrease the ratio of postnatal depression after cesarean delivery.

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 21-50 years old
• 36 gestational weeks or more,
• American Society of Anesthesiologists' (ASA) I and II
• Able to communicate

Exclusion criteria

• history of bipolar or psychotic disorder
• suicidal state
• Chronic pain syndrome
• Intraoperative complication
• drug and/or alcohol abuse
• who did not want to participate
• emergency cases
• unable to communicate in Turkish