“Trust Your Gut”: Promising Precision Approaches in Childhood Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Abstract

The gut-brain axis has been increasingly linked to pediatric neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Accumulating evidence indicates that there are microbial fingerprints in these conditions, which may lead to personalized therapies. However, few review articles have provided a comprehensive synthesis to guide clinical translation. We aim to summarize current evidence of gut microbiome alterations in these childhood disorders, and opportunities for precision management approaches. There are numerous promising early-life interventions including probiotics and fecal microbial transplants. These treatment modalities may become targeted strategies to reduce both the risk of developing these disorders and their concurrent comorbidity. [ Psychiatr Ann. 2024;54(4):e103–e107.]