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Sponsor: University of Macau
Conditions: Depression, Postpartum
Interventions: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
Countries: Macau
The purpose of this study is to identify multimodal biological markers associated with postpartum depression (PPD) and to evaluate the effectiveness of precision brain stimulation treatment. PPD is a common mental health condition after childbirth that can affect maternal well-being and early child development. Current identification of PPD relies largely on clinical assessments and screening questionnaires, which may not fully capture underlying biological changes. This study uses brain activity, cardiac signals, blood-based biomarkers, interoceptive assessments, and clinical measures to characterize multimodal biological profiles associated with PPD and treatment response. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What multimodal biological differences exist between women with diagnosed PPD and healthy comparison groups, including postpartum and non-postpartum controls? * Which biological or psychological markers can predict whether a patient will respond well to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment? * Can a clinical model be created to help doctors choose the best treatment based on these markers? The study focuses on characterizing multimodal biological differences in women with diagnosed PPD and examining clinical response profiles following rTMS treatment, rather than predicting the onset of PPD in the general population. Participants will: * Undergo electroencephalography (EEG) using a 128-channel cap to measure neural activity. * Have electrocardiography (ECG) recorded to analyze heart rate variability and autonomic function. * Provide blood samples to measure inflammatory cytokines, endocrine levels, and metabolic markers. * Complete Interoceptive Assessments (tasks to measure awareness of internal body signals) and clinical psychological surveys. * Complete follow-up assessments via online surveys and scheduled visits at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months postpartum. Participants in the PPD group will: * Receive 4 weeks of high-precision, robot-guided rTMS treatment (20 sessions total). * Undergo pre-intervention multimodal assessments, including EEG, ECG, blood biomarkers, and interoceptive tasks, to identify potential predictors of clinical response to rTMS treatment.
Sex: FEMALE
Age: 18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Inclusion Criteria: * Biological female, aged 18-45 years. * For HR-PPD and LR-PPD groups: Pregnant women in the third trimester (≥ 32 weeks gestation) with a singleton pregnancy. * For HR-PPD group: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score ≥ 14 during the third trimester. * For LR-PPD group: BDI score \< 14 during the third trimester, with no history of depression. * For HC group: Healthy women with no pregnancy in the past 12 months. * No history of central nervous system diseases or major medical/surgical conditions. * No history of medication use that may interfere with EEG or ECG measurements. * Willing and able to complete baseline and follow-up assessments and provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Multiple pregnancies, preterm labor, or severe pregnancy complications (e.g., pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes with complications). * Life-threatening emergencies during delivery (e.g., amniotic fluid embolism, major hemorrhage). * Cognitive impairment or language barriers that hinder cooperation with assessments. * History of major psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder). * Other conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, make the participant unsuitable for the study.
- Macao, Macau
- Macao, Macau