Probiotic Add-On Therapy for Depression: Clinical and Neural Effects
Can probiotics treat depression through the gut-brain connection?
Yes. Probiotic add-on therapy produces approximately 20-25% greater improvement in depressive symptoms compared to placebo when added to standard antidepressant treatment. A randomized controlled trial of 47 depressed patients (21 probiotics, 26 placebo) published in Translational Psychiatry found that 80% of patients in the probiotics group achieved treatment response compared to 48% in the placebo group after 4 weeks of intervention, with benefits maintained at 8-week follow-up.