The role of gut microbiota in psychiatric disorders: current findings

Across depressive and psychotic disorders, growing evidence supports a multifaceted and indispensable role of gut microbiota in clinical symptomatology, treatment response, and cognition of patients. However, substantial variability of methodological frame, limited sample sizes, lack of mechanistic precision, and heterogeneity between published studies result in unequivocal conclusions on the exact effect of microbiota on mental health in general, and on major psychiatric disorders. While microbiota-targeted therapies remain adjunctive and exploratory, recent findings reinforce them as a promising target for more successful treatment of mental health disorders in the near future. In order to reach that goal, we need more rigorous, longitudinal, and integrative studies to guide the clinical implementation.