European Psychiatry - Volume 33 - March 2016

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S26 24th European Congress of Psychiatry / European Psychiatry 33S (2016) S18–S55
and localized inflammation, compromised endothelial barriers,
IgG sensitivities to food antigens, exposure to viral and parasitic
pathogens, and autoimmunity. The gut in a homeostatic state
equates with a functional digestive system, cellular barrier stability
and properly regulated recognition of self and non-self antigens,
as managed by a complex community of resident microbes. Our
studies address how environmental and genetic factors relate to
GI dysfunction, impact the resident gut microbiota and result in
dysregulation of processes in the host central nervous system. We
hypothesize that disturbance to GI equilibria activates peripheral
immune factors including complement pathway components that
function in synaptic pruning. We evaluate these issues with periph-
eral immune biomarkers and deep sequencing in a number of
case-control psychiatric cohorts that include antipsychotic-naïve
individuals. Although certain medications and lifestyle factors
might affect GI functioning, our findings support a GI pathology
inherent to the schizophrenia disease process and a role for the gut-
brain axis in complex brain disorders. The identification of those
individuals affected by GI-related risk factors will enable appro-
priate and individualized treatments to be designed and tested for
efficacy of both gut and brain-related symptoms.
Disclosure of interest The author has not supplied his declaration
of competing interest.
S26
The role of the gut microbiota in
mood and behaviour. Whether
psychobiotics can become an
alternative in therapy in psychiatry?
S. Van Hemert , W. Marlicz , P. Szachta ∗, E. Pekelharing ,
G. Ormel , I. Łoniewski , L. Ostrowska , J. Samochowiec
1 Vitaimmun Medical Center, Research Department, Szczecin, Poland
2 Winclove Probiotics, Hulstweg 11, 1032 LB, Amsterdam,
Netherlands
3 Pomeranian Medical University, Department of Gastroenterology,
Szczecin, Poland
4 Sanprobi, Sp. Z o.o. Sp. K., Szczecin, Poland
5 Medical University, Department of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition,
Bialystok, Poland
6 Pomeranian Medical University, Department of Psychiatry,
Szczecin, Poland
∗ Corresponding author.
Introduction Novel research concepts based on therapies aim-
ing to modulate intestinal microbiota are emerging. The evidence
is mounting that gut-brain axis plays an important role in the
development of mood and depressive disorders he similarities
between blood brain barrier (BBB) and gut vascular barrier (GVB)
and their role in chronic diseases have been recently unraveled
Especially convincing data come from animal models, where
administration of probiotics and antibiotics in germ and pathogen
free mice showed beneficial role in the regulation of behavior, cog-
nition, pain, anxiety and mood.
Aims and results Based on available data as well as on
studies looking at the effect of multispecies probiotics
(Ecologic® Barrier containing B.bifidumW23, B.lactisW52,
L.acidophilusW37, L.brevisW63, L.caseiW56, L.salivariusW24,
L.lactisW19, L.lactisW58) on cognitive reactivity to sad mood in
healthy volunteers e designed the human trial aiming to com-
pare microbiome alterations and response to therapy in patients
with depression and schizophrenia. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo
data support the notion that multispecies probiotics are capable
of improving gut barrier function nd may alleviate disorders
affecting mood and depressive-like behavior. We postulate that
therapies modulating the microbiome-gut-brain axis warrant
further investigations.
Conclusion Multispecies probiotics have the potential to influ-
ence the gut-brain axis and alleviate mental disorders. Ongoing
clinical study in patients with depression and schizophrenia will
help to further unravel the role of gut-brain axis in the treatment
of patients with psychiatric disturbances.
Disclosure of interest The authors have not supplied their decla-
ration of competing interest.
References
[1] Smith PA. Brain meet gut. Nature 2015;526:312–4.
[2] Spadoni I, Zagato E, Bertocchi A, et al. A gut vascular bar-
rier controls the systemic dissemination of bacteria. Science
2015;350(6262):830–4.
[3] Steenbergen L, Sellaro R, van Hemert S, et al. A randomized
controlled trial to test the effect of multispecies probiotics on
cognitive reactivity to sad mood. Brain Behav Immun 2015.
[4] Van Hemert S, Ormel G. Influence of the multispecies probiotic
Ecologic® barrier on parameters of intestinal barrier function.
Food Nutr Sci 2014;5:1739–45.
E-mental Health: Updates on recent achievements
and pitfalls
S27
E-Mental Health and models of care:
The evidence base and feasibility of
picking one vs. another?
D. Hilty
Keck School of Medicine at USC and LAC + USC Medical Center, Los
Angeles, USA
The patient-centered care features quality, affordable, and timely
care in a variety of settings – technology is a key part of that –
particularly among younger generations and child and adolescent
patients. The consumer movement related to new technologies
is nearly passing clinicians by, as new ways of communicating
with others (text, email, Twitter, Facebook) revolutionizes how we
experience life and access healthcare. This paper explores a con-
tinuum with healthy, innovative behavior on one end (e.g., social
media) and pathological Internet use on the other end–and the
range of self-help and e-mental healthcare options being used.
Specifically, it focuses on how social media adds to, yet may com-
plicate healthcare delivery, such that clinicians may need to adjust
our approach to maintain therapeutic relationships, interper-
sonal/clinical boundaries, and privacy/confidentiality. We suggest
planning ahead to discuss expectations about online communica-
tion between doctors and patients as part of the informed consent
process, offer other do’s and don’ts for patients and clinicians, and
review applicable guidelines. More research is needed on con-
sumer and patient use of technology related to healthcare, as is
an approach to basic and advanced measurement of outcomes.
Disclosure of interest The author has not supplied his declaration
of competing interest.
S28
After all, is E-Mental Health capable of
making a paradigm shift?
M. Krausz
Institute of Mental Health at UBC, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Only a very small percentage of adolescents and young adults
with mental challenges is able to access specialized care. Access is