Psychobiotic research examines rodent behavior to measure changes in motivation, anxiety, and depression following treatment. In 2015, a study published in Neuroscience journal reported probiotic supplements improved resilience in rats following stressful experiences. Dosing stressed rats with Lactobacillus helveticus lowered anxiety and depression-like behaviors.

Psychobiotic use on rodents 

The antidepressant efficacy of probiotics and improved cognition is demonstrated in recent research. Multiple studies have reported improvements in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cognition along with somatic components. 

University of Illinois at Chicago

Psychobiotics are beneficial bacteria (probiotics) or support for such bacteria (prebiotics) that influence bactera-brain relationships and have great therapeutic potential for the treatment of psychiatric diseases. 

Psychobiotics 

Misera, A., Liśkiewicz, P., Łoniewski, I., Skonieczna-Żydecka, K., & Samochowiec, J. (2021). Effect of psychobiotics on psychometric tests and inflammatory markers in major depressive disorder: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with meta-regression. Pharmaceuticals, 14(10), 952.

Effect of Psychobiotics on Psychometric Tests and Inflammatory Markers in Major Depressive Disorder: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials with Meta-Regression

Many microorganisms have been proposed as potential psychotropic agents including: 
- Streptococcus thermophiles
- Bifidobacterium animalis
- Lactobacillus plantarum
- Lactobacillus helveticus
- Bacillus coagulans

Beneficial microorganisms in psychobiotics 

Ingestion of moderate amounts of the microorganisms in psychobiotics can assist in the production of neuroactive substances, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine, serotonin, glutamate, and may also regulate proteins such as brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), which are important in the regulation of functions and behaviors related to the central nervous system (CNS). Research has suggested that the administration of psychobiotics can be effective in treating depression, stress, and anxiety. 

Physiological effects of psychobiotics 

According to research, clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of depressive disorders in women are different than those with men. Therefore, the composition of gut microbiota in men and women suffering from major depressive disorder differ from one another, which might stand for different psychobiotic efficacy. In a study examining the effects of psychobiotics on major depressive disorder, there was less efficacy in women compared to men. 

Gender difference in the efficacy of psychobiotics

Antidepressant Efficacy of Psychobiotics

The network of connections involving multiple biological systems that allow bidirectional communication between gut bacteria and brain. The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in brain physiology and myelination, in which major depressive disorder is associated with abnormalities in brain myelin content. 

Microbiota-gut-brain axis 

Research has shown that the occurrence and development of depression are often accompanied by gut microbial changes, such as the reduced abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. 

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