The relationship between the microbiome and posttraumatic stress disorder: a protocol for a scoping review

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a significant health challenge affecting an extensive demographic worldwide. Despite the availability of various treatments, their effectiveness varies widely, underlining the necessity to understand the mechanisms behind the disorder. An emerging area of exploration is the influence of the human microbiome, the full complement of microbes within us, on PTSD. Several studies have correlated microbiome imbalances or dysbiosis with mental health disorders, implying potential implications for PTSD via the gut-brain axis, a two-way communication system between our brain and gut. Still, the precise dynamics of this interaction and the extent of its therapeutic potential remain not fully elucidated.

A scoping review will provide a comprehensive look at current research on the microbiome-PTSD interplay, shedding light on potential treatment avenues and areas needing additional exploration. A comprehensive literature search will be conducted, using the databases Medline, Embase and PsychINFO. We will concentrate on original data from studies published in the English language. Both human participants diagnosed with PTSD and preclinical studies using rodent models of PTSD will be included. Outcomes of interest will encompass changes in microbiome composition and diversity, measures of the gut-brain axis, and intervention-related metrics.