Gut-Brain Study Data
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Anonymized data from the "The Gut-Brain Relationship: Investigating the effect of multispecies probiotics on anxiety in a randomized placebo-controlled trial of healthy young adults." study.
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RESEARCH PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between the organism in our digestive tract and our mental functioning. Specifically, we were interested in learning the effect of probiotics on mental functioning and how it can be applied to enhance therapy and improve overall health by means of prevention and maintenance. REQUIREMENT: The requirements for participating in the study: A. Healthy young adults between the age of 18-35 B. Have health insurance C. Does not have a serious psychological illness. A serious psychological illness is defined as any psychological diagnosis made by a physician/licensed mental health provider that affects 3 or more domains of life (e.g., work, school, relationship, etc.). Self-reported by the participant during study's intake. D. Does not have any medical illness (e.g., cold, flu, stomach flu, weaken the immune system, etc.) or medical procedure (e.g., open surgery, etc.). If medical illness occurred during the study, participation would be terminated. E. Not pregnant or plan to be pregnant during the study. If pregnancy happens during the study, participation would be terminated. F. Not taken probiotic or prebiotic in the last 6 months. G. Able to consistently follow the regiment of the study. H. Able to come in to the lab 5 days a week for 4 weeks. PROCEDURES: a) Participants completed a preliminary survey at the beginning of the study. The survey consisted of questionnaires that assessed their overall health and habit. b) After completing their preliminary survey, they started their probiotic regimen. The participants took a probiotic pill every day for the next 4 weeks (a total of 28 days). The probiotic will be administered at the lab; this means there will be 5 visits to the lab per week for 4 weeks. During the weekend, the participants was given 2 dosages of probiotic to be self-administered. c) After 4 weeks, on the 29 days of being in the study, the participants would come back to the lab to complete an exit survey similar to the survey they took at the start of the study. No probiotic was administered to the participants on that day. The study requires a commitment of at least 4 weeks (or 28days) and a dedication to follow the treatment regimen consistently and thoroughly. This means taking probiotics on time and daily, and not excessively missing scheduled appointments.