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RETRACTED ARTICLE: Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis and Depression: a Comprehensive Review

  • Other Pain ( AD Kaye and N Vadivelu, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

This article was retracted on 27 March 2023

This article has been updated

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The human gut microbiome is involved in a bi-directional communication pathway with the central nervous system (CNS), termed the microbiota–gut–brain axis. The microbiota–gut–brain axis is believed to mediate or modulate various central processes through the vagus nerve. The microbiota–gut–brain axis is involved with the production of microbial metabolites and immune mediators which trigger changes in neurotransmission, neuroinflammation, and behavior. Little is understood about the utilization of microbiome manipulation to treat disease.

Recent Findings

Though studies exploring the role of the microbiome in various disease processes have shown promise, mechanisms remain unclear and evidence-based treatments for most illnesses have not yet been developed. The animal studies reviewed in the present investigation include an array of basic science studies that clarify mechanisms by which the microbiome may affect mental health. More evidence is needed, particularly as it relates to translating this work to humans.

Summary

The studies presented in this review demonstrate encouraging results in the treatment of depression. Limitations include small sample sizes and heterogeneous methodology. The exact mechanism by which the gut microbiota causes or alters neuropsychiatric disease states is not fully understood. In this review, we focus on recent studies investigating the relationship between gut microbiome dysbiosis and the pathogenesis of depression.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

    Alexander Capuco

  2. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Ivan Urits, Jamal Hasoon & Thomas Simopoulos

  3. University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Rebecca Chun & Brittany Gerald

  4. Harvard Medical School, Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Boston, MA, USA

    Jason K. Wang

  5. Pain Specialty Group, Department of Pain Medicine, Newington, NH, USA

    Anh L. Ngo

  6. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Anh L. Ngo

  7. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Shreveport, LA, USA

    Alan D. Kaye, Matthew M. Colontonio, Tomasina Q. Parker-Actlis & Omar Viswanath

  8. Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI, USA

    Mitchell C. Fuller

  9. Department of Anesthesiology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA

    Omar Viswanath

  10. Department of Anesthesiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Omar Viswanath

  11. Valley Anesthesiology and Pain Consultants – Envision Physician Services, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Omar Viswanath

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  1. Alexander Capuco
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  2. Ivan Urits
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Correspondence to Ivan Urits.

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Conflict of Interest

Alexander Capuco, Ivan Urits, Jamal Hasoon, Rebecca Chun, Brittany Gerald, Jason K Wang, Anh L. Ngo, Thomas Simopoulos, Matthew M. Colontonio, Tomasina Q. Parker-Actlis, Mitchell C. Fuller, and Omar Viswanath declare no conflict of interest. Alan Kaye is a Section Editor for Current Pain and Headache Reports. He has not been involved in the editorial handling of this manuscript. Dr. Kaye is also a speaker for Merck.

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This article has been retracted. Please see the retraction notice for more detail:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-023-01106-5

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Capuco, A., Urits, I., Hasoon, J. et al. RETRACTED ARTICLE: Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis and Depression: a Comprehensive Review. Curr Pain Headache Rep 24, 36 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-020-00871-x

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