The Effect of Probiotics as Adjuvant Therapy in Patients with Depression: A Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53366/jimki.v12i2.926Keywords:
probiotics, adjuvant therapy, depression, gut-brain axis, gut microbiotaAbstract
Introduction: Depressive disorders are one of the most common mental health problems worldwide and are often chronic and difficult to treat completely. In recent years, the emergence of the concept of the relationship between gut microbiota and the brain (gut–brain axis) has opened up new opportunities in the treatment of mood disorders, including the use of probiotics as an additional intervention. This study aims to systematically review the effects of probiotics as adjuvant therapy in patients with depression.
Method: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines through a literature search on the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. The articles analyzed were original studies published between 2015 and 2025 that discussed the effects of probiotics as adjuvant therapy in patients with depression.
Discussion: The seven articles reviewed show that the use of probiotics as adjuvant therapy has a positive effect in reducing symptoms of depression based on BDI or HAM-D scores. The effect of probiotics will be optimal if they are administered directly together with antidepressant medication prescribed by a doctor.
Conclusion: The use of probiotics for at least 6–8 weeks can significantly reduce depression symptom scores (BDI, HAM-D) as an adjunctive therapy. However, further research is needed to determine the most optimal strain, dosage, and duration protocols, as well as a deeper understanding of the individual mechanisms of patient response.
Keywords: probiotics, adjuvant therapy, depression, gut-brain axis, gut microbiota
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