An unexpected cause of mental disorders has been identified

Previously, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was considered exclusively a "brain" disease. However, a new study by Chinese scientists, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, points to an unexpected source - the gut microflora. Using a genetic method, the team identified six types of bacteria directly linked to the development of OCD.

Three of them - Proteobacteria, Ruminococcaceae, and Bilophila - on the contrary, reduced the risk of the disorder. The others, including Bacillales and Eubacterium, increased it. To separate cause from effect, the scientists applied the Mendelian randomization method: they analyzed genetic data from almost 220 thousand people and showed that some changes in the microbiota composition may not just accompany OCD but cause it.

This work is the first serious evidence that gut bacteria can play a causal role in the development of mental disorders. Previously, they were linked to depression and anxiety, but the connection with OCD remained hypothetical.

Researchers hope that in the future, methods for preventing and treating OCD through microbiota management will emerge. This is especially important since up to 40 percent of patients with OCD respond poorly to existing therapy - and for them, the new strategy could be a chance to improve their lives.