Description

Extract from "THE GENE ILLUSION Genetic Research
in Psychiatry and Psychology Under the Microscope"
Jay Joseph, Psy.D.

Since genetics and "brain chemical imbalance" theories (or delusions and delirium, depending on your point of view) arrived on the scene, there has effectively been zero progress in mental health treatment.


There is another aspect to some of the family relationship studies - the gut microbiota. Bacteria and other organisms that inhabit the GI tract are now implicated, or suspected of being implicated, in quite a few illnesses.

Gut flora abnormalities can be detected in illness where behaviour is abnormal - in particular Autism (the only one studied in that respect, as far as I am aware...)

GI bacteria could have a potential influence on any "genetic" illness studies, as twins have very very similar gut bacteria (or a similar overall gut bacteria genetic profile), siblings less so, etc (research by Professor Jeffrey Gordon).

And there can be further complications if GI bacterial profiles are altered or modified, by for example antibiotics or the contraceptive pill.

I have been of the opinion that there is a strong link between gut bacteria and schizophrenia for a while, and some very recent personal experminentation is leading my even further to this conclusion...

However, even in accepted science, genetic studies in any illness might want to ponder whether a gut bacterial connection could influence the figures.