Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36653035›Full record

Trial reportJournal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN

Effect of short-term, high-dose probiotic supplementation on cognition, related brain functions and BDNF in patients with depression: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Else Schneider, Jessica P K Doll, Nina Schweinfurth, Cedric Kettelhack, Anna-Chiara Schaub, Gulnara Yamanbaeva, Nimmy Varghese, Laura Mählmann, Serge Brand, Anne Eckert and 3 more

Registry-linked trialOpen access · diamondAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT02957591 (The Effect of Probiotic Supplementation on the Efficacy of Antidepressant Treatment in Depression), which is not on this map. Cited by 54 papers, 13 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
54citing papers in PubMed, 13 pooled it
15.4field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT02957591 nacompletednot on this map

The Effect of Probiotic Supplementation on the Efficacy of Antidepressant Treatment in Depression

TypeinterventionalSponsorPsychiatric Hospital of the University of BaselRan2017 to 2020Enrolled60ConditionsSevere DepressionArmsVivomixx®, Placebo
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

54 citing papers in PubMed, 13 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 88 citations in OpenAlex.

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  10. The effects ofFrontiers in nutrition · 2025
    Pooled it
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  13. Nutraceuticals in Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2024
    Pooled it
  14. Trial
  15. Intake ofNutrients · 2023
    Trial
  16. The effects ofIBRO neuroscience reports · 2026
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors at 6 institutions in 4 countries.

Else SchneiderFrom the University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Basel, Switzerland (Schneider, Doll, Schweinfurth, Kettelhack, Schaub, Yamanbaeva, Varghese, Mählmann, Brand, Eckert, Borgwardt, Lang, Schmidt); the Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Varghese, Eckert); the Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Division of Sport Science and Psychosocial Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Brand); the School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Brand); the Department of Research, St. Clara Hospital, Basel, Switzerland ([CE; authors were not indicated for this affiliation]}; the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (Borgwardt).
Jessica P K DollFrom the University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Basel, Switzerland (Schneider, Doll, Schweinfurth, Kettelhack, Schaub, Yamanbaeva, Varghese, Mählmann, Brand, Eckert, Borgwardt, Lang, Schmidt); the Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Varghese, Eckert); the Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Division of Sport Science and Psychosocial Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Brand); the School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Brand); the Department of Research, St. Clara Hospital, Basel, Switzerland ([CE; authors were not indicated for this affiliation]}; the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (Borgwardt).
Nina SchweinfurthFrom the University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Basel, Switzerland (Schneider, Doll, Schweinfurth, Kettelhack, Schaub, Yamanbaeva, Varghese, Mählmann, Brand, Eckert, Borgwardt, Lang, Schmidt); the Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Varghese, Eckert); the Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Division of Sport Science and Psychosocial Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Brand); the School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Brand); the Department of Research, St. Clara Hospital, Basel, Switzerland ([CE; authors were not indicated for this affiliation]}; the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (Borgwardt).
Cedric KettelhackFrom the University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Basel, Switzerland (Schneider, Doll, Schweinfurth, Kettelhack, Schaub, Yamanbaeva, Varghese, Mählmann, Brand, Eckert, Borgwardt, Lang, Schmidt); the Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Varghese, Eckert); the Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Division of Sport Science and Psychosocial Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Brand); the School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Brand); the Department of Research, St. Clara Hospital, Basel, Switzerland ([CE; authors were not indicated for this affiliation]}; the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (Borgwardt).
Anna-Chiara SchaubFrom the University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Basel, Switzerland (Schneider, Doll, Schweinfurth, Kettelhack, Schaub, Yamanbaeva, Varghese, Mählmann, Brand, Eckert, Borgwardt, Lang, Schmidt); the Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Varghese, Eckert); the Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Division of Sport Science and Psychosocial Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Brand); the School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Brand); the Department of Research, St. Clara Hospital, Basel, Switzerland ([CE; authors were not indicated for this affiliation]}; the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (Borgwardt).
Gulnara YamanbaevaFrom the University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Basel, Switzerland (Schneider, Doll, Schweinfurth, Kettelhack, Schaub, Yamanbaeva, Varghese, Mählmann, Brand, Eckert, Borgwardt, Lang, Schmidt); the Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Varghese, Eckert); the Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Division of Sport Science and Psychosocial Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Brand); the School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Brand); the Department of Research, St. Clara Hospital, Basel, Switzerland ([CE; authors were not indicated for this affiliation]}; the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (Borgwardt).
Nimmy VargheseFrom the University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Basel, Switzerland (Schneider, Doll, Schweinfurth, Kettelhack, Schaub, Yamanbaeva, Varghese, Mählmann, Brand, Eckert, Borgwardt, Lang, Schmidt); the Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Varghese, Eckert); the Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Division of Sport Science and Psychosocial Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Brand); the School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Brand); the Department of Research, St. Clara Hospital, Basel, Switzerland ([CE; authors were not indicated for this affiliation]}; the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (Borgwardt).
Laura MählmannFrom the University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Basel, Switzerland (Schneider, Doll, Schweinfurth, Kettelhack, Schaub, Yamanbaeva, Varghese, Mählmann, Brand, Eckert, Borgwardt, Lang, Schmidt); the Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Varghese, Eckert); the Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Division of Sport Science and Psychosocial Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Brand); the School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Brand); the Department of Research, St. Clara Hospital, Basel, Switzerland ([CE; authors were not indicated for this affiliation]}; the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (Borgwardt).
Serge BrandFrom the University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Basel, Switzerland (Schneider, Doll, Schweinfurth, Kettelhack, Schaub, Yamanbaeva, Varghese, Mählmann, Brand, Eckert, Borgwardt, Lang, Schmidt); the Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Varghese, Eckert); the Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Division of Sport Science and Psychosocial Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Brand); the School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Brand); the Department of Research, St. Clara Hospital, Basel, Switzerland ([CE; authors were not indicated for this affiliation]}; the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (Borgwardt).
Anne EckertFrom the University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Basel, Switzerland (Schneider, Doll, Schweinfurth, Kettelhack, Schaub, Yamanbaeva, Varghese, Mählmann, Brand, Eckert, Borgwardt, Lang, Schmidt); the Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Varghese, Eckert); the Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Division of Sport Science and Psychosocial Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Brand); the School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Brand); the Department of Research, St. Clara Hospital, Basel, Switzerland ([CE; authors were not indicated for this affiliation]}; the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (Borgwardt).
Stefan BorgwardtFrom the University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Basel, Switzerland (Schneider, Doll, Schweinfurth, Kettelhack, Schaub, Yamanbaeva, Varghese, Mählmann, Brand, Eckert, Borgwardt, Lang, Schmidt); the Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Varghese, Eckert); the Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Division of Sport Science and Psychosocial Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Brand); the School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Brand); the Department of Research, St. Clara Hospital, Basel, Switzerland ([CE; authors were not indicated for this affiliation]}; the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (Borgwardt).
Undine E LangFrom the University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Basel, Switzerland (Schneider, Doll, Schweinfurth, Kettelhack, Schaub, Yamanbaeva, Varghese, Mählmann, Brand, Eckert, Borgwardt, Lang, Schmidt); the Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Varghese, Eckert); the Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Division of Sport Science and Psychosocial Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Brand); the School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Brand); the Department of Research, St. Clara Hospital, Basel, Switzerland ([CE; authors were not indicated for this affiliation]}; the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (Borgwardt).
André SchmidtFrom the University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Basel, Switzerland (Schneider, Doll, Schweinfurth, Kettelhack, Schaub, Yamanbaeva, Varghese, Mählmann, Brand, Eckert, Borgwardt, Lang, Schmidt); the Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Varghese, Eckert); the Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (Brand); the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Division of Sport Science and Psychosocial Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Brand); the School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Brand); the Department of Research, St. Clara Hospital, Basel, Switzerland ([CE; authors were not indicated for this affiliation]}; the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (Borgwardt) andre.schmidt@unibas.ch.
University of Lübeck · DEUniversitäre Psychiatrische Kliniken Basel · CHKermanshah University of Medical Sciences · IRTehran University of Medical Sciences · IRSt. Claraspital · CHUniversity of Basel · CH

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn major depressive disorder (MDD), cognitive dysfunctions strongly contribute to functional impairments but are barely addressed in current therapies. Novel treatment strategies addressing cognitive symptoms in depression are needed. As the gut microbiota-brain axis is linked to depression and cognition, we investigated the effect of a 4-week high-dose probiotic supplementation on cognitive symptoms in depression.

methodsThis randomized controlled trial included 60 patients with MDD, of whom 43 entered modified intention-to-treat analysis. A probiotic supplement or indistinguishable placebo containing maltose was administered over 31 days in addition to treatment as usual for depression. Participant scores on the Verbal Learning Memory Test (VLMT), Corsi Block Tapping Test, and both Trail Making Test versions as well as brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels were assessed at 3 different time points: before, immediately after and 4 weeks after intervention. Additionally, brain activation changes during working memory processing were investigated before and immediately after intervention.

resultsWe found a significantly improved immediate recall in the VLMT in the probiotic group immediately after intervention, and a trend for a time × group interaction considering all time points. Furthermore, we found a time × group interaction in hippocampus activation during working memory processing, revealing a remediated hippocampus function in the probiotic group. Other measures did not reveal significant changes. LIMITATIONS: The modest sample size resulting from our exclusion of low-compliant cases should be considered.

conclusionAdditional probiotic supplementation enhances verbal episodic memory and affects neural mechanisms underlying impaired cognition in MDD. The present findings support the importance of the gut microbiota-brain axis in MDD and emphasize the potential of microbiota-related regimens to treat cognitive symptoms in depression. CLINICAL

trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02957591.

Indexed as

Major Depressive DisorderProbioticsBrainBrain-Derived Neurotrophic FactorCognitionDepressionDietary SupplementsHumansBrain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor

Identifiers

PMID36653035
PMCPMC9854921
OpenAlexW4317212730

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.