An Update on the Relationship Between the Gut Microbiome and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

The gut microbiome, the collection of microbes and their genetic material in the human gastrointestinal tract, has recently become a topic of interest in psychiatry. To date, animal studies have repeatedly shown behavior to be affected by alterations in the gut microbiota. Furthermore, studies in clinical psychiatric populations have also illustrated that microbial dysbiosis may play a role in these conditions, but results have been inconsistent. Given the existing animal and human literature providing evidence for a role of the microbiome in anxiety and depressive disorders, this review explores and develops similar lines of evidence in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Theoretical treatment options targeting the gut microbiome are also discussed. [ Psychiatr Ann. 2017;47(11):542–551.]