A Gut Mood Solution: A groundbreaking strategy for managing bipolar disorders

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A groundbreaking new treatment for bipolar disorder, the story of the Australian couple who pioneered it, and the scientific evidence underpinning it.

'A balanced, scientifically explained and utterly fascinating account of major breakthrough cases in bipolar disorder.' - Norman Doidge, author of The Brain That Changes Itself

If you are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, conventional medications aren't always effective - and they often have disturbing side-effects. What if there was a completely different treatment

Jane Dudley was disabled by a severe bipolar disorder for twenty years. Conventional treatments failed and she was desperate. Her husband, Alex, an ecologist, discovered the growing research about our gut microbiome and its powerful influence on physical and mental disorders, including mood changes. The Dudleys felt they had nothing to lose. In 2016, under close monitoring from her psychiatrist, Jane undertook a radical fortnightly treatment. Within a year, she had completely recovered from this destructive disorder and remains symptom free over seven years later. Stories of others who have since achieved success are also included.

Leading international expert on the bipolar disorders Professor Gordon Parker believes we are at the threshold of a revolution in psychiatric care for those with mood disorders. A Gut Mood Solution explains the gut-brain-mood relationship, drawing on the knowledge of respected experts. Parker outlines the evidence as to how a faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) could bring a bipolar disorder under control for those not responding to orthodox medications, and addresses the practical issues and health cautions surrounding access to the treatment.

'This book is the best thing to happen in the bipolar disorder field for a long time.' - Professor Emad M. El-Omar, Editor in Chief, Gut journal

'The clinical observations in this carefully crafted book are breathtaking.' - Professor Nicholas J. Talley, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle

'Nothing opens up vistas of new research like listening to our patients. This eye-opening book - beautifully crafted and deeply researched - reveals how the improbable marriage of brain and gut may lead to the greatest advance in the treatment of bipolar disorder since the discovery of lithium.' - Associate Professor Greg de Moore, Director at Bipolar Australia and author of Finding Sanity

Author Bio

PROFESSOR GORDON PARKER AO is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of New South Wales. He founded the Black Dog Institute, was Head of the School of Psychiatry at the University of New South Wales for twenty years and head of the clinical psychiatry service at Prince of Wales Hospital for fifteen years. He has published over 1100 scientific papers and 17 books, including Burnout and Journeys with the Black Dog. He is a leading international expert in mood disorders, especially the bipolar disorders.