Gut Microbiome: A Potential Indicator for Differential Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder and General Anxiety Disorder

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) and general anxiety (GAD) share many common features, leading to numerous challenges in their differential diagnosis. Given the importance of microbiota–gut–brain axis, we investigated differences gut microbiota between representative cases these two diseases sought develop a microbiome-based approach for Methods: We enrolled 23 patients with MDD, 21 GAD, 10 healthy subjects (healthy crowd, HC) present study. used 16S rRNA gene-sequencing analysis determine microbial compositions microbiome based on Illumina Miseq according standard protocol. Results: GAD showed significant difference richness diversity as compared HC. Additionally, Otu24167, Otu19140, Otu19751 were significantly decreased MDD relative HC, Otu2581 Otu10585 increased MDD. At genus level, abundances Sutterella Fusicatenibacter lower Christensenellaceae _R7_group than The abundance was higher whereas that Faecalibacterium Moreover, observed negatively correlated factor score (Limited Hopelessness) total HAMD-24 ( p < 0.05), FT4 0.05). Furthermore, group at level , which PTC Conclusions: This study elucidated unique gut-microbiome signature associated could facilitate diagnosis targeted therapy.