The overlooked role of microbiota-gut-brain communication in child psychiatry: a call for integration in early intervention strategies

Emerging research has highlighted the significant role of microbiota-gut-brain communication in child psychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and anxiety disorders. Despite this, mainstream psychiatric interventions for children continue to focus predominantly on neurological...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sunny Cui, Mubtaseem Aronno, Angel K.Q. Wong, Leah Snodgrass
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Communicative & Integrative Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19420889.2024.2446332
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850038833895178240
author Sunny Cui
Mubtaseem Aronno
Angel K.Q. Wong
Leah Snodgrass
author_facet Sunny Cui
Mubtaseem Aronno
Angel K.Q. Wong
Leah Snodgrass
author_sort Sunny Cui
collection DOAJ
description Emerging research has highlighted the significant role of microbiota-gut-brain communication in child psychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and anxiety disorders. Despite this, mainstream psychiatric interventions for children continue to focus predominantly on neurological and psychological therapies, neglecting the critical influence of gut microbiota on brain development and behavior. This commentary underscores the need for greater integration of microbiota-targeted therapies, such as dietary interventions, prebiotics, and probiotics, into early psychiatric intervention strategies. By addressing the gut-brain axis as a key component of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric outcomes, clinicians can adopt a more holistic and biologically informed approach to treatment. We propose that future research and clinical practice should prioritize interdisciplinary collaboration to explore how microbiota-based treatments can be incorporated into existing child psychiatry frameworks, offering new avenues for improving long-term mental health outcomes.
format Article
id doaj-art-5225cb285c334cf6934e1c7d82f79fb2
institution DOAJ
issn 1942-0889
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Communicative & Integrative Biology
spelling doaj-art-5225cb285c334cf6934e1c7d82f79fb22025-08-20T02:56:29ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCommunicative & Integrative Biology1942-08892025-12-0118110.1080/19420889.2024.2446332The overlooked role of microbiota-gut-brain communication in child psychiatry: a call for integration in early intervention strategiesSunny Cui0Mubtaseem Aronno1Angel K.Q. Wong2Leah Snodgrass3Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USASchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harrogate, TN, USAEmerging research has highlighted the significant role of microbiota-gut-brain communication in child psychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and anxiety disorders. Despite this, mainstream psychiatric interventions for children continue to focus predominantly on neurological and psychological therapies, neglecting the critical influence of gut microbiota on brain development and behavior. This commentary underscores the need for greater integration of microbiota-targeted therapies, such as dietary interventions, prebiotics, and probiotics, into early psychiatric intervention strategies. By addressing the gut-brain axis as a key component of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric outcomes, clinicians can adopt a more holistic and biologically informed approach to treatment. We propose that future research and clinical practice should prioritize interdisciplinary collaboration to explore how microbiota-based treatments can be incorporated into existing child psychiatry frameworks, offering new avenues for improving long-term mental health outcomes.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19420889.2024.2446332microbiota-gut-brain axisChild psychiatryneuroimmune interactionsmicrobiota communicationneurodevelopmental disorders
spellingShingle Sunny Cui
Mubtaseem Aronno
Angel K.Q. Wong
Leah Snodgrass
The overlooked role of microbiota-gut-brain communication in child psychiatry: a call for integration in early intervention strategies
Communicative & Integrative Biology
microbiota-gut-brain axis
Child psychiatry
neuroimmune interactions
microbiota communication
neurodevelopmental disorders
title The overlooked role of microbiota-gut-brain communication in child psychiatry: a call for integration in early intervention strategies
title_full The overlooked role of microbiota-gut-brain communication in child psychiatry: a call for integration in early intervention strategies
title_fullStr The overlooked role of microbiota-gut-brain communication in child psychiatry: a call for integration in early intervention strategies
title_full_unstemmed The overlooked role of microbiota-gut-brain communication in child psychiatry: a call for integration in early intervention strategies
title_short The overlooked role of microbiota-gut-brain communication in child psychiatry: a call for integration in early intervention strategies
title_sort overlooked role of microbiota gut brain communication in child psychiatry a call for integration in early intervention strategies
topic microbiota-gut-brain axis
Child psychiatry
neuroimmune interactions
microbiota communication
neurodevelopmental disorders
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19420889.2024.2446332
work_keys_str_mv AT sunnycui theoverlookedroleofmicrobiotagutbraincommunicationinchildpsychiatryacallforintegrationinearlyinterventionstrategies
AT mubtaseemaronno theoverlookedroleofmicrobiotagutbraincommunicationinchildpsychiatryacallforintegrationinearlyinterventionstrategies
AT angelkqwong theoverlookedroleofmicrobiotagutbraincommunicationinchildpsychiatryacallforintegrationinearlyinterventionstrategies
AT leahsnodgrass theoverlookedroleofmicrobiotagutbraincommunicationinchildpsychiatryacallforintegrationinearlyinterventionstrategies
AT sunnycui overlookedroleofmicrobiotagutbraincommunicationinchildpsychiatryacallforintegrationinearlyinterventionstrategies
AT mubtaseemaronno overlookedroleofmicrobiotagutbraincommunicationinchildpsychiatryacallforintegrationinearlyinterventionstrategies
AT angelkqwong overlookedroleofmicrobiotagutbraincommunicationinchildpsychiatryacallforintegrationinearlyinterventionstrategies
AT leahsnodgrass overlookedroleofmicrobiotagutbraincommunicationinchildpsychiatryacallforintegrationinearlyinterventionstrategies