Question 1

Hi, how do I know if my gut health is contributing to my depression? Are there signs?

Timothy Dinan · Accepted Answer

Do you have any gastrointestinal symptoms?  This is the key question.
Do you have a good diet?

Question 2

Do SSRIs increase serotonin in gut?

Timothy Dinan · Accepted Answer

They certainly do which may explain why so many patients taking SSRIs experience nausea or a change in bowel habit.

Question 3

Has any research group looked at faecal microbial transplantation for depression?

Timothy Dinan · Accepted Answer

So far there is no published study using this approach.

Question 4

What is the gut-brain axis?

Timothy Dinan · Accepted Answer

The brain and gut are intimately linked and signals are constantly travelling from brain to gut and vice versa.  This complex system is termed the brain-gut axis and has been implicated in a variety of disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Question 5

I am a mental health clinician. In general, how should I advise my clients to nurture their microbiome to boost their mood and improve overall psychological well-being?

Timothy Dinan · Accepted Answer

A Mediterranean diet is associated with the best mental health.  Attached is a paper which outlines the details.

Question 6

What are psychobiotics?

Timothy Dinan · Accepted Answer

Psychobiotics are bacteria which, when ingested in adequate amounts, have a positive mental health benefit.  Bacteria such as Bifidobacteria have been studied for their psychobiotic activity.

Question 7

What is the link between the gut and mental health?

Timothy Dinan · Accepted Answer

Increasing evidence suggests that changes in our gut microbes can impact our mental health.  Attached is a review which summarizes the findings.

Question 8

How can I change my gut to improve my mood?

Timothy Dinan · Accepted Answer

Increase intake of fruit, vegetables, nuts, fish and fermented foods.  Decrease intake of highly processed foods.

Question 9

Many of my clients come back from naturopaths and functional medicine doctors with the advice to avoid dairy and gluten (they are not lactose intolerant or celiac). Does your work indicate that this would be useful for gut and mental health?

Timothy Dinan · Accepted Answer

Absolutely not, I see no logic in such advice.

Question 10

Can antibiotics cause depression?

Timothy Dinan · Accepted Answer

We know from large scale prescribing of antibiotics that overall depression rates are increased in patients who take antibiotics.   This increase while undoubtedly real is not massive.  For an individual the risk of becoming depressed as a result of an antibiotic is small.

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