Gut-Brain Communication in PTSD: Biological Causes and Microbiome Treatments

Dysbiosis in PTSD is associated with immune dysregulation, altered neuroendocrine signaling, and neurotransmitter imbalances.

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is linked to chronic illnesses, including inflammatory, metabolic, and cognitive disorders.
• The brain-gut-microbiota axis may play a crucial role in the neuroimmune and neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying PTSD.
• Preclinical studies using animal models show that stress can lead to both behavioral changes and shifts in gut microbiota similar to human PTSD.
• In human patients with PTSD, there is a reduced abundance of beneficial bacteria and an increase in inflammation-related bacterial genera.
• Current evidence suggests a connection between gut microbiota and PTSD, but further studies are necessary to clarify causal relationships.

Simplified