Title:Probiotics as an Adjuvant Therapy in Major Depressive Disorder
VOLUME: 14 ISSUE: 8
Author(s):Josipa Vlainić Vlainić, Jelena Šuran, Toni Vlainić and Antonella Letizia Vukorep
Affiliation:Ruđer Bošković Institute, POB 180, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Keywords:Antidepressant drug, brain-gut axis, gastrointestinal system, major depressive disorder, microbiota, psychobiotics.
Abstract:Background: Major depressive disorder is a common, debilitating
psychiatric disorder, which originates from the interaction of susceptibility genes and
noxious environmental events, in particular stressful events. It has been shown that
dysregulation of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, imbalance between
anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines, depletion of neurotransmitters (serotonin,
norepinephrine and/or dopamine) in the central nervous system, altered glutamatergic
and GABAergic transmission have an important role in the pathogenesis of depression.
Due to numerous diverse biological events included in the pathophysiology of
depression a large number of antidepressant drugs exerting distinct pharmacological
effects have been developed. Nevertheless, clinical needs are still not solved.
Results: Relatively new research strategies advanced the understanding of psychiatric illness and their
connections with disturbances in gastrointestinal tract. The existence of bidirectional communication
between the brain and the gut has been proven, and an increasing body of evidence supports the
hypothesis that cognitive and emotional processes are influenced through the brain-gut axis. On the other
hand, microbiome may influence brain function and even behavior giving to the specific microorganisms
a psychobiotic potential.
Conclusions: In this review we discuss the possibilities of classical antidepressant drug treatment being
supported with the psychobiotics/probiotic bacteria in patients suffering from major depressive disorder.
