Overview
Bipolar Disorder (BD) is highly incapacitating and associated with premature mortality. Depressive symptoms and episodes are the most frequent cause of disability in subjects with BD and over half of patients do not respond adequately to approved treatments for this condition, showing the need for new classes of treatments to complement current pharmacotherapy. Previous studies demonstrated that the intestinal flora have potential positive or negative effects on the Central Nervous System and suggest that adding specific strains of bacteria to people's diet may have antidepressant properties.The study proposes to evaluate the clinical benefit of adding probiotics to pharmacological treatments for bipolar depression. This will be a study with 84 subjects (42 receiving probiotics and 42 placebo). The research team in this department has focused especially on non-pharmacological treatments for bipolar disorder (psychotherapy, nutrition and exercise) and is multidisciplinary in scope with psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, physiotherapists and nutritionists participating in research projects.
Description
It will test, in a proof-of-concept study, the antidepressant efficacy of adjunctive administration of probiotics in bipolar depression and evaluate potential inflammatory and metabolic markers associated with response to treatment. With this objective, 84 individuals with bipolar disorder type I or type II presenting subsyndromal depressive symptoms or a major depressive episode will be recruited. The study design lasts 12 weeks and is expected to last two years.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- BD type I or type II, according to the use of Mini Internacional Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)
- Score on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) < 8
- Score on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) > 8
- Be receiving major guideline-approved treatments for bipolar depression for at least 4 weeks
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnant or lactating women
- Substance or alcohol dependence
- Patients on prolonged antibiotic therapy, immunosuppressive therapies
- A recent introduction of antidepressants in the last 15 days
- Use of another probiotic, either in the form of food, sachets, capsules and others