Probiotic trial in IBS reported greater reductions in depression questionnaire scores
A small randomized trial reported improvements in depressive symptoms and quality-of-life scores, but the abstract leaves their size and practical importance unclear.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Among hospital patients with IBS, the abstract reports a greater reduction in depressive symptom scores with probiotics than with placebo. Several quality-of-life scores also improved. The report does not provide the size of these changes, so it is unclear whether participants experienced a meaningful improvement or how long any benefit lasted.
The abstract omits probiotic strains, dose, treatment length and score differences. It also leaves unclear whether the reported statistical test compared changes from baseline or final scores.
What researchers found
Depressive symptoms: BDI-II questionnaire
After supplementation, probiotics showed a greater reported reduction than placebo; treatment length was unreported. The p-value describes statistical evidence for the comparison, not the size or clinical importance of improvement.
What was measured
Researchers randomly assigned patients to probiotics or placebo, then assessed depressive symptoms and quality of life before and after treatment. The results concern questionnaire scores; the abstract does not report how many participants recovered from depression.
Quality of life
Reported quality-of-life improvements covered physical functioning, pain, vitality and mental health, among other domains. Without numerical score differences, the abstract offers limited help in judging the everyday importance of these changes.
The original publication
The Role of Probiotics in Depression and Quality of Life in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Erlita D, Shatri H, Fauzi A et al.
Acta Med Indones · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41502201
- Record checked
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