Looking to the gut for alternatives to antidepressants – Psychiatrist Ted Dinan

Depression and anxiety are mental illnesses that have become ubiquitous in modern society and their prevalence is on the rise. As is the widespread use of antidepressants and other psychiatric medication to combat the crippling symptoms which accompany them. Antidepressants, however, are in no way a panacea to depression. In addition to treating the symptoms and not the root cause, many antidepressants have terrible side-effects, as discussed with Dr Joanna Moncrieff recently. Dr Ted Dinan, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at University College Cork and one of the world's main experts on this link between mental health and our guts, has been looking to the gut for potential alternatives to antidepressants. BizNews spoke to Dinan about the gut microbiome and how psychobiotics could revolutionise the treatment of depression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices