Effect of probiotics as adjuvant therapy of antidepressants in male Wistar rats with anhedonia behavior

Abstract

Background: Depression is one of the most common causes of disability in the world, and one third of patients do not respond to currently available antidepressants, so a strategy is needed in its management. There have been many studies looking for a relationship between the role of the gut and mental health. Probiotics are the focus of much research in the field of psychiatry today due to their alleged role in improving mental health through gut health. Methods: This research was a true experimental study with a posttest-only design with a control group design. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plasma levels, serum serotonin (ST) serum levels, and sucrose preference test (SPT) values were analysed in 39 male Wistar rats with anhedonic behavior. Results: Average BDNF plasma level in treatment group was 1.63 ng/mL with a standard deviation of 0.56 ng/mL, while the mean BDNF plasma level in control group was 0.89 ng/mL with a standard deviation of 0.46 ng/mL. There was a significant difference in that the BDNF plasma levels in the control group were lower than in the treatment group, with a p<0.001 (CI = 95%). The median ST serum level in the treatment group was 25.78 with an IQR of 9.61 ng/mL, while the median ST serum level in the control group was 7.5 with an IQR of 0.38 ng/mL. Statistically, the difference is significant from the p value <0.001. The median SPT score in the treatment group was 84.5 with an interquartile range (IQR) of 12%, while the median SPT value in the control group was 67 with an IQR of 8%. Conclusion: There was an effect of probiotics as an adjuvant antidepressant therapy in male Wistar rats with anhedonic behavior.