Implications of the Gut Microbiota for Brain Function and Behavior in Schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT

Schizophrenia is a severe, chronic psychiatric disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, cognitive impairments, and emotional dysregulation. This psychiatric illness is often resistant to treatment. This literature review aims to analyze the relationship between this complex psychological disorder and the gut microbiota found within the human body. The brain and gut are interconnected, and emerging research suggests a link between gut dysbiosis and schizophrenia. Gut dysbiosis refers to an imbalance or disruption in the composition and function of the gut microbiome. The studies comparing the gut microbiota of patients with schizophrenia to those without highlight significant differences at the phylum and genus levels, providing evidence of gut microbiome alteration. The lack of diversity of microbiota in schizophrenia patients can be altered and improved to a healthier microbiome by way of dietary intervention. Interventions that target the gut-brain axis, such as dietary probiotics or prebiotics, may help alleviate certain symptoms of schizophrenia and help improve patients' well-being. Understanding the complex interplay between gut microbiome health and schizophrenia may allow for the development of targeted interventions that alter the gut microbiome of patients with schizophrenia and, in turn, mitigate their symptoms and improve their quality of life.