No scientific discovery in the last decade has been more shocking than the realization of just how thoroughly physical health depends upon the trillions of microbes that call our bodies home. While this discovery has been increasingly integrated into how we understand and treat a range of immune-related physical conditions, it is only now that the full impact of these human-microbial interactions for mental health are being understood. Dr. Raison will provide a cutting-edge view of the biology of microbial-human interactions relevant for a range of psychiatric conditions, including depression and autism, with a focus on evidence that the current epidemic of immune-related mental disorders has arisen in large measure as a result of disruptions in ancient co-evolved relationships with the microbial world. This session will conclude by reviewing evidence suggesting that microbial products may hold promise for the treatment of a range of psychiatric conditions.
