TABLE 1.
Relevant Characteristics of the Cohort
| Patients (n = 125) | Controls (n = 39) | |
|---|---|---|
| Age, mean (SD), y | 21.9 (2.6) | 28.5 (9.5) |
| Sex, men/women (% men) | 17/108 (14) | 15/24 (38) |
| BMI, median (range), kg/m2 | 22.4 (15.1–46.6) | 23.0 (18.1–37.8) |
| MADRS-S total score, median (range) | 22 (0–49) | 5 (0–20) |
| GSRS-IBS total score, median (range) | 31.5 (13–78) | 23.0 (13–47) |
| Medication, n (%) | ||
| Any medication | 106 (84.8) | 20 (51.2) |
| Any psychiatric medication | 82 (66) | 3 (8) |
| Other anxiolytic medicationa | 29 (23) | 0 (0) |
| Antidepressive treatmentb | 58 (46) | 3 (7.7) |
| Antipsychotics | 7 (5.6) | 0 (0) |
| Antiepileptics | 11 (8.8) | 0 (0) |
| Benzodiazepines | 4 (3.2) | 0 (0) |
| Z analogs | 7 (5.6) | 0 (0) |
| Immune modulating | 8 (6.4) | 0 (0) |
| Diagnosis, n (%) | ||
| Current depressive episode (UP/BP) | 68 (54.4) | 0 (0) |
| Any bipolar disorderc | 23 (18.4) | 0 (0) |
| Celiac disease | 1 (0.8) | 0 (0) |
| Systemic inflammatory diseased | 4 (3.2) | 0 (0) |
| Lifetime depressive episode (UP) | 73 (58.4) | 5 (13.8) |
| Any anxiety disorder, DSM-IV | 85 (68) | 1 (2.5) |
| Anorexia | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Bulimia nervosa | 10 (8) | 0 (0) |
| SCFAs | ||
| Acetate ratio, median (range) | 0.77 (0.45–0.98) | 0.76 (0.44–0.87) |
| Butyrate ratio, median (range) | 0.05 (0.01–0.12) | 0.05 (0.03–0.09 |
| Propionate ratio, median (range) | 0.18 (0.01–0.43) | 0.18 (0.08–0.51) |
SD = standard deviation; BMI = body mass index (missing data for 4 patients); MADRS-S = Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale—Self-Assessment (missing data for 1 patient); GSRS-IBS = Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (missing data for 14 patients and 4 controls); UP/BP = unipolar/bipolar disorder; DSM-IV = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition; SCFAs = short-chain fatty acids.
a Sedating antihistamines, phenothiazines.
b Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, mood stabilizers, and atypical antidepressants.
c Bipolar types I and II and nonspecified.
d Systemic inflammatory disease, that is, four cases of inflammatory bowel disorder.
One patient had comorbid high functioning autism and dyslexia, one patient had comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, one case presented psychotic symptoms, and one patient has since this study started committed suicide.