Is Your Gut Linked to Psychosis? Let's Explore the Connection

We often think of mental health disorders like schizophrenia as being rooted in the brain—but exciting new research suggests your gut might play a surprising role too.

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In our systematic review, we examined studies on the gut microbiome—the trillions of bacteria living in your digestive system—and how it may be involved in psychosis and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. We looked at both human and animal studies to understand the bigger picture.

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What did we find? People with psychosis tend to have a different gut microbiome compared to those without. These differences may be linked to known factors in schizophrenia, such as inflammation, immune system changes, and metabolic issues—all of which are connected to gut health.

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While these findings are promising, there’s still a lot we don’t know. It’s not yet clear whether changes in the gut microbiome cause psychosis, or whether they are a consequence of it. More research is needed to understand exactly how the gut and brain interact in these conditions.

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Why does this matter? If we can confirm a connection, it could lead to brand-new ways of managing psychosis—perhaps by targeting the gut through diet, probiotics, or microbiome-focused treatments.

In short, the gut-brain connection is a rapidly growing area of research, and it may hold the key to understanding and treating complex mental health conditions in the future.

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Want to know more?
👉 Click below to read the full paper.