The microbiome and PTSD: a scoping review across preclinical and clinical studies

Mar 6, 2026European journal of psychotraumatology

The gut microbiome and PTSD: an overview of animal and human studies

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Abstract

Fifty studies, including 20 human studies, indicate an association between PTSD and alterations in the .

Human studies often report reduced microbial diversity and a decrease in beneficial bacteria linked to gut health.
Increased levels of certain bacteria associated with gut permeability and inflammation were observed in individuals with PTSD.
Preliminary evidence suggests that microbiome-targeted interventions, such as probiotics and dietary changes, may improve symptoms and related metabolic markers.
Preclinical models show that stress leads to changes in specific bacterial populations and affects gut barrier integrity and immune response.
Interventions in preclinical studies, including probiotics and certain compounds, appear to reduce anxiety-like behaviors and restore microbial balance.

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BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that substantially impairs quality of life and global health. Emerging evidence implicates that the human contributes to PTSD pathophysiology via gut-brain-immune interactions, although the underlying mechanisms and therapeutic implications remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE: This review aimed to systematically map the evidence linking microbiome alterations to PTSD, with a focus on mechanistic pathways, therapeutic potential, and research gaps.

METHODS: This scoping review was conducted in Medline, Embase, and PsychINFO from inception to 18-03-2025. Eligible studies included human participants with PTSD and preclinical rodent models employing validated PTSD paradigms. Outcomes of interest included microbiome diversity and composition, gut-brain axis biomarkers, and effects of microbiome-targeted interventions.

RESULTS: Fifty studies were included, comprising 20 human, 29 preclinical and one cross-species study. Human observational studies frequently observed reduced overall microbial diversity, along with a loss of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, such as Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae, and an increased abundance of,, and linked to gut permeability and inflammation. Human intervention studies testing probiotics, prebiotics, fermented soy, and dietary fibre showed preliminary evidence for symptom and related metabolic and inflammatory marker improvements; however, microbiome effects were inconsistent. Preclinical models revealed stress-induced reductions in, Verrucomicrobia, and, and increases in and. Functional consequences included impaired barrier integrity, altered SCFA levels, and heightened immune activation. Preclinical interventions, particularly, as well as probiotics, synbiotics, acetate, and MDMA, mitigated microbial alterations, reduced anxiety-like behaviours, and modulated neuroimmune pathways. Veillonella Odoribacter Catenibacterium Bifidobacteria Parabacteroides Coprobacillus Anaeroplasma Mycobacterium vaccae

CONCLUSION: Current evidence supports an association between PTSD and microbiome alterations, with convergent human and preclinical findings. However, human research remains limited by small, cross-sectional designs, which preclude causal inferences. Rigorous longitudinal and interventional studies are required to establish causality and assess microbiome-targeted therapies as adjuncts in PTSD treatment.

Key numbers

50 studies

Study Count

Included 20 human studies and 29 preclinical studies.

10 to 470 participants

Sample Size Range

Individual study sample sizes varied widely.

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The microbiome and PTSD: a scoping review across preclinical and clinical studies

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