Open AccessEffect of Probiotic Supplementation on Schizophrenia Symptoms and Association With Gastrointestinal Functioning
Author(s) -
Faith Dickerson,
Cassie Stallings,
Andrea Origoni,
Emily Katsafanas,
Christina Savage,
Lucy Schweinfurth,
Joshana Goga,
Sunil Khushalani,
Robert H. Yolken
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
primary care companion to cns disorders/the primary care companion for cns disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2155-7772
pISSN - 2155-7780
DOI - 10.4088/pcc.13m01579
Subject(s) - probiotic , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , medicine , placebo , bifidobacterium animalis , lactobacillus rhamnosus , positive and negative syndrome scale , antipsychotic , irritable bowel syndrome , gastroenterology , schizoaffective disorder , randomized controlled trial , psychiatry , psychosis , bifidobacterium , lactobacillus , biology , bacteria , genetics , alternative medicine , pathology
A range of immune system abnormalities have been associated with schizophrenia. Probiotic compounds modulate the immune response and offer a potential treatment strategy for schizophrenia. Probiotic compounds have also been observed to improve gastrointestinal dysfunction, which is a common problem in individuals with schizophrenia. We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to examine whether probiotic supplementation can reduce symptom severity in patients with schizophrenia receiving antipsychotic treatment and also whether probiotics are associated with bowel functioning.