{"id":{"repo_id":"southwales","oai_identifier":"oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/8d2709c8-5a06-4cc9-ab5d-979a425914d1"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/southwales/oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/8d2709c8-5a06-4cc9-ab5d-979a425914d1","repository":{"repo_id":"southwales","name":"University of South Wales","base_url":"https://pure.southwales.ac.uk/ws/oai"},"display":{"title":"Psychobiotics: Exploring an adjunct intervention for mental health","abstract":"Background: Growing evidence highlights the connection between gut health and mental health, with the microbiome–gut–brain axis positioned as a potential target for novel mental health interventions. Psychobiotics, probiotic and prebiotic strains capable of influencing brain function via the gut microbiome, have shown promise in alleviating symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cognitive dysfunction; however, the integration of psychobiotics into mental health practice remains limited. Counselling psychologists, with their holistic and evidence based approach, may be well positioned to help bridge the gap between novel microbiome science and psychological care. However, little is known about Healthcare Professionals’ (HPs) awareness of psychobiotics or psychologists' attitudes towards their use in practice. <br/><br/>Methods: This study adopted a mixed-methods approach to examine HPs' knowledge, attitudes, and openness towards the use of psychobiotics in mental health care. Quantitative data were gathered through an online survey completed by 85 HPs, which explored their awareness of the gut–brain axis, familiarity with psychobiotics, and their willingness to consider these as adjunctive interventions. A brief psychoeducational intervention was included in the survey to assess whether it influenced participants’ attitudes. The qualitative strand involved a thematic analysis of responses from 12 psychologists, which provided their perceptions of psychobiotics and their views on potential barriers and facilitators to clinical integration. <br/><br/>Results: Quantitative findings revealed high awareness of gut health’s role in physical health (84%) and moderate awareness of its impact on mental health (76%), but low baseline familiarity with the term psychobiotics (33%). Following a short psychoeducational intervention, 95% of previously unfamiliar respondents indicated willingness to consider psychobiotics in practice. Thematic analysis identified four key themes: Spectrum of Awareness, Unfamiliar but Curious, Cautious Optimism, and Barriers to Implementation. These findings suggest that meaningful uptake will depend on addressing current gaps in knowledge, policy, and infrastructure for practice. <br/><br/>Conclusion: HPs including psychologists, demonstrate openness to the use of psychobiotics in clinical settings, although baseline awareness remains limited. Brief educational interventions appear effective in increasing receptivity. Counselling psychologists are highly skilled in formulation, reflexivity, and integration, and are well placed to support the ethical implementation of psychobiotics across multidisciplinary teams. However, their ability to influence systemic change is constrained by the profession’s size and structural limitations within training provision. Future research should evaluate the impact of targeted continuing professional development, identify implementation pathways in clinical settings, and examine the longterm effects of psychobiotic interventions on psychological outcomes.","abstract_html":"Background: Growing evidence highlights the connection between gut health and mental health, with the microbiome–gut–brain axis positioned as a potential target for novel mental health interventions. Psychobiotics, probiotic and prebiotic strains capable of influencing brain function via the gut microbiome, have shown promise in alleviating symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cognitive dysfunction; however, the integration of psychobiotics into mental health practice remains limited. Counselling psychologists, with their holistic and evidence based approach, may be well positioned to help bridge the gap between novel microbiome science and psychological care. However, little is known about Healthcare Professionals’ (HPs) awareness of psychobiotics or psychologists&#x27; attitudes towards their use in practice. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Methods: This study adopted a mixed-methods approach to examine HPs&#x27; knowledge, attitudes, and openness towards the use of psychobiotics in mental health care. Quantitative data were gathered through an online survey completed by 85 HPs, which explored their awareness of the gut–brain axis, familiarity with psychobiotics, and their willingness to consider these as adjunctive interventions. A brief psychoeducational intervention was included in the survey to assess whether it influenced participants’ attitudes. The qualitative strand involved a thematic analysis of responses from 12 psychologists, which provided their perceptions of psychobiotics and their views on potential barriers and facilitators to clinical integration. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Results: Quantitative findings revealed high awareness of gut health’s role in physical health (84%) and moderate awareness of its impact on mental health (76%), but low baseline familiarity with the term psychobiotics (33%). Following a short psychoeducational intervention, 95% of previously unfamiliar respondents indicated willingness to consider psychobiotics in practice. Thematic analysis identified four key themes: Spectrum of Awareness, Unfamiliar but Curious, Cautious Optimism, and Barriers to Implementation. These findings suggest that meaningful uptake will depend on addressing current gaps in knowledge, policy, and infrastructure for practice. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Conclusion: HPs including psychologists, demonstrate openness to the use of psychobiotics in clinical settings, although baseline awareness remains limited. Brief educational interventions appear effective in increasing receptivity. Counselling psychologists are highly skilled in formulation, reflexivity, and integration, and are well placed to support the ethical implementation of psychobiotics across multidisciplinary teams. However, their ability to influence systemic change is constrained by the profession’s size and structural limitations within training provision. Future research should evaluate the impact of targeted continuing professional development, identify implementation pathways in clinical settings, and examine the longterm effects of psychobiotic interventions on psychological outcomes.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Guscott, Saz"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctoral Thesis","degree_level":"Student thesis","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Tyson, Philip","Beyer, Annie"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2026,"date_issued":"2026","date_published":"2026","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:39:57Z","subjects":[],"languages":["eng"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/8d2709c8-5a06-4cc9-ab5d-979a425914d1"],"render_values":[{"text":"oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/8d2709c8-5a06-4cc9-ab5d-979a425914d1","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://pure.southwales.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/8d2709c8-5a06-4cc9-ab5d-979a425914d1","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Tyson, Philip","Beyer, Annie"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Guscott, Saz"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2026"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2026"]},{"key":"dc:relation.isreferencedby","label":"Dc Relation Isreferencedby","values":["https://pure.southwales.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/8d2709c8-5a06-4cc9-ab5d-979a425914d1"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["Student thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationname","label":"Dc Type Qualificationname","values":["Doctoral Thesis"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["eng"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/8d2709c8-5a06-4cc9-ab5d-979a425914d1","https://pure.southwales.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/8d2709c8-5a06-4cc9-ab5d-979a425914d1"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://pure.southwales.ac.uk/files/35540694/Saz_Guscott_DPsych_Thesis.pdf"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Background: Growing evidence highlights the connection between gut health and mental health, with the microbiome–gut–brain axis positioned as a potential target for novel mental health interventions. Psychobiotics, probiotic and prebiotic strains capable of influencing brain function via the gut microbiome, have shown promise in alleviating symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cognitive dysfunction; however, the integration of psychobiotics into mental health practice remains limited. Counselling psychologists, with their holistic and evidence based approach, may be well positioned to help bridge the gap between novel microbiome science and psychological care. However, little is known about Healthcare Professionals’ (HPs) awareness of psychobiotics or psychologists' attitudes towards their use in practice. <br/><br/>Methods: This study adopted a mixed-methods approach to examine HPs' knowledge, attitudes, and openness towards the use of psychobiotics in mental health care. Quantitative data were gathered through an online survey completed by 85 HPs, which explored their awareness of the gut–brain axis, familiarity with psychobiotics, and their willingness to consider these as adjunctive interventions. A brief psychoeducational intervention was included in the survey to assess whether it influenced participants’ attitudes. The qualitative strand involved a thematic analysis of responses from 12 psychologists, which provided their perceptions of psychobiotics and their views on potential barriers and facilitators to clinical integration. <br/><br/>Results: Quantitative findings revealed high awareness of gut health’s role in physical health (84%) and moderate awareness of its impact on mental health (76%), but low baseline familiarity with the term psychobiotics (33%). Following a short psychoeducational intervention, 95% of previously unfamiliar respondents indicated willingness to consider psychobiotics in practice. Thematic analysis identified four key themes: Spectrum of Awareness, Unfamiliar but Curious, Cautious Optimism, and Barriers to Implementation. These findings suggest that meaningful uptake will depend on addressing current gaps in knowledge, policy, and infrastructure for practice. <br/><br/>Conclusion: HPs including psychologists, demonstrate openness to the use of psychobiotics in clinical settings, although baseline awareness remains limited. Brief educational interventions appear effective in increasing receptivity. Counselling psychologists are highly skilled in formulation, reflexivity, and integration, and are well placed to support the ethical implementation of psychobiotics across multidisciplinary teams. However, their ability to influence systemic change is constrained by the profession’s size and structural limitations within training provision. Future research should evaluate the impact of targeted continuing professional development, identify implementation pathways in clinical settings, and examine the longterm effects of psychobiotic interventions on psychological outcomes."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Psychobiotics: Exploring an adjunct intervention for mental health"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Tyson, Philip","Beyer, Annie"],"dc:creator":["Guscott, Saz"],"dc:date":["2026"],"dc:date.issued":["2026"],"dc:description.abstract":["Background: Growing evidence highlights the connection between gut health and mental health, with the microbiome–gut–brain axis positioned as a potential target for novel mental health interventions. Psychobiotics, probiotic and prebiotic strains capable of influencing brain function via the gut microbiome, have shown promise in alleviating symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cognitive dysfunction; however, the integration of psychobiotics into mental health practice remains limited. Counselling psychologists, with their holistic and evidence based approach, may be well positioned to help bridge the gap between novel microbiome science and psychological care. However, little is known about Healthcare Professionals’ (HPs) awareness of psychobiotics or psychologists' attitudes towards their use in practice. <br/><br/>Methods: This study adopted a mixed-methods approach to examine HPs' knowledge, attitudes, and openness towards the use of psychobiotics in mental health care. Quantitative data were gathered through an online survey completed by 85 HPs, which explored their awareness of the gut–brain axis, familiarity with psychobiotics, and their willingness to consider these as adjunctive interventions. A brief psychoeducational intervention was included in the survey to assess whether it influenced participants’ attitudes. The qualitative strand involved a thematic analysis of responses from 12 psychologists, which provided their perceptions of psychobiotics and their views on potential barriers and facilitators to clinical integration. <br/><br/>Results: Quantitative findings revealed high awareness of gut health’s role in physical health (84%) and moderate awareness of its impact on mental health (76%), but low baseline familiarity with the term psychobiotics (33%). Following a short psychoeducational intervention, 95% of previously unfamiliar respondents indicated willingness to consider psychobiotics in practice. Thematic analysis identified four key themes: Spectrum of Awareness, Unfamiliar but Curious, Cautious Optimism, and Barriers to Implementation. These findings suggest that meaningful uptake will depend on addressing current gaps in knowledge, policy, and infrastructure for practice. <br/><br/>Conclusion: HPs including psychologists, demonstrate openness to the use of psychobiotics in clinical settings, although baseline awareness remains limited. Brief educational interventions appear effective in increasing receptivity. Counselling psychologists are highly skilled in formulation, reflexivity, and integration, and are well placed to support the ethical implementation of psychobiotics across multidisciplinary teams. However, their ability to influence systemic change is constrained by the profession’s size and structural limitations within training provision. Future research should evaluate the impact of targeted continuing professional development, identify implementation pathways in clinical settings, and examine the longterm effects of psychobiotic interventions on psychological outcomes."],"dc:identifier":["oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/8d2709c8-5a06-4cc9-ab5d-979a425914d1","https://pure.southwales.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/8d2709c8-5a06-4cc9-ab5d-979a425914d1"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://pure.southwales.ac.uk/files/35540694/Saz_Guscott_DPsych_Thesis.pdf"],"dc:language":["eng"],"dc:relation.isreferencedby":["https://pure.southwales.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/8d2709c8-5a06-4cc9-ab5d-979a425914d1"],"dc:title":["Psychobiotics: Exploring an adjunct intervention for mental health"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"dc:type.qualificationlevel":["Student thesis"],"dc:type.qualificationname":["Doctoral Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:39:57Z"}