Microbiota-brain axis: Exploring the role of gut microbiota in psychiatric disorders - A comprehensive review.

Mental illness is a hidden epidemic in modern science that has gradually spread worldwide. According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 10% of the world's population suffers from various mental diseases each year. Worldwide, financial and health burdens on society are increasing annually. Therefore, understanding the different factors that can influence mental illness is required to formulate novel and effective treatments and interventions to combat mental illness. Gut microbiota, consisting of diverse microbial communities residing in the gastrointestinal tract, exert profound effects on the central nervous system through the gut-brain axis. The gut-brain axis serves as a conduit for bidirectional communication between the two systems, enabling the gut microbiota to affect emotional and cognitive functions. Dysbiosis, or an imbalance in the gut microbiota, is associated with an increased susceptibility to mental health disorders and psychiatric illnesses. Gut microbiota is one of the most diverse and abundant groups of microbes that have been found to interact with the central nervous system and play important physiological functions in the human gut, thus greatly affecting the development of mental illnesses. The interaction between gut microbiota and mental health-related illnesses is a multifaceted and promising field of study. This review explores the mechanisms by which gut microbiota influences mental health, encompassing the modulation of neurotransmitter production, neuroinflammation, and integrity of the gut barrier. In addition, it emphasizes a thorough understanding of how the gut microbiome affects various psychiatric conditions.

Prevalence and clinical correlates of restless legs syndrome in psychiatric patients: A cross-sectional study from North India.

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neuro-sensorimotor disorder which is scarcely researched and is commonly missed in routine psychiatry practice. Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of RLS and its correlates in patients with anxiety, depression, and somatoform disorders. Methods: A cross-sectional single-center study was undertaken in patients aged 18-65 years suffering from ICD-10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases-10th edition) diagnosis of anxiety, depressive, and somatoform disorders. RLS was evaluated by using diagnostic criteria of International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) and severity measured on IRLSSG scale. Depression and anxiety were rated on Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scales respectively, insomnia severity measured by Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and quality of life measured by WHO Quality of Life-Brief version (WHO-QOL BREF) scale. Serum ferritin levels were measured for evaluating iron deficiency. Results: The rate of RLS was 66.7%, 50%, and 48% in patients with depressive, anxiety, and somatoform disorders, respectively, with no significant inter-group difference. Nearly one-third of patients suffered from severe to very severe symptoms of RLS, and quality of life was poorest in those with depressive disorders. RLS was significantly higher in females (P = 0.019), who were married (P = 0.040), diagnosed with severe depression (P = 0.029), and abused benzodiazepines (P = 0.045). On binary logistic regression, female gender and presence of clinical insomnia predicted occurrence of RLS. Conclusion: The prevalence of RLS is very high in patients with common psychiatric disorders which is often missed. Clinical enquiry and examination for reversible causes such as iron deficiency may assist in its diagnosis and improve clinical outcome.