Fecal Microbiota Transplantation as a Mental Health Intervention

This project is an expansion of a class project completed to introduce nursing students to the concept of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) as a mental health intervention. FMT is a procedure where the processed stool of a healthy donor is injected into the colon of a recipient to introduce healthy flora into the recipient’s gut microbiome. The transplantation is commonly done through a colonoscopy, but ‘poop pills’ are available to be taken orally. This intervention has been successful in incidences of recurrent Clostridium difficile infections, and certain autoimmune disorders like Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Experimental uses of FMT have also been effective in the treatment of mental health disorders like depression, and some bipolar disorders. Current literature suggests that the effectiveness of FMT in certain psychiatric conditions is due to how it helps intestinal microbial dysbiosis (imbalance of microbiota) which impacts the brain-gut-microbiome axis (BGM axis). The BGM axis plays a role in immune and neuroendocrine function. This project also explores the social impacts of FMT and discusses potential negative outcomes.