Psychobiotics

Abstract

Psychobiotics are live bacteria that directly and indirectly produce positive effects on neuronal functions by colonizing into the intestinal flora. Preliminary studies, although in limited numbers, have found that these bacteria have anxiolytic and antidepressant activities. No research has yet been published on the antipsychotic efficacy of psychobiotics. However, these preliminary studies have opened up new horizons and raised the idea that a new class is emerging in psychopharmacology. About 70 years have passed since the discovery of chlorpromazine, and while the synaptic transmission is understood in almost all details, there seems to be a paradigm shift in psychopharmacology. In recent years, the perspective has shifted from synapse to intestinal microbiota. In this respect, germ-free and conventional animal experiments and few human studies were examined in a comprehensive manner. In this article, after a brief look at the history of contemporary psychopharmacology, the mechanisms of the gut–brain relationship and the evidence of metabolic, systemic, and neuropsychiatric activities of psychobiotics were discussed in detail. In conclusion, psychobiotics seem to have the potential for treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders in the future. However, there are many questions and we do not know the answers yet. We anticipate that the answer to these questions will be given in the near future.