The Perinatal Synergistic Multi-component Intervention to alLeviate dEpressive Symptoms. A Case Series (SMILES)

This open-label case series trial (n=25) will assess the feasibility of conducting a future randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the Perinatal SMILES intervention in improving post-cesarean mood (postpartum depression; PPD) in low-income women.

The intervention combines interpersonal therapy with subcutaneous ketamine therapy. Participants will undergo five sessions of interpersonal therapy and receive two skin injections of ketamine, approximately 24 hours apart, in the first four postpartum days. Brain electrical activity will be assessed before and after the ketamine injections, and mood will be evaluated over the first 12 postpartum weeks.

The primary goal is to determine the feasibility of recruiting participants, administering the intervention, and collecting outcome data. This study is led by the Washington University School of Medicine and is scheduled to start in May 2024, with an estimated completion date of April 2025.

Topic Depression Postpartum Depression
Compound Ketamine
Country United States of America
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Washington University School of Medicine
Located in St. Louis Missouri, researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine have conducted a number of studies with psychedelics inlcuding ketamine, psilocybin and nitrous oxide.

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