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

by Gordon Parker

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

AS SEEN ON ABC TV's AUSTRALIAN STORY 'Gut Instinct' episode with Jane Dudley and Gordon Parker

'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

'A compelling and riveting account of a potentially groundbreaking new intervention for bipolar disorders...'I highly recommend A Gut Mood Solution to both medical practitioners and the general public. -Paul A. Maguire, Australasian Psychiatry

Kindle Edition

Published March 4, 2025

About the author

Gordon Parker is Scientia Professor of Psychiatry at the University of NSW, Professorial Fellow at the Black Dog Institute, and a renowned researcher and expert on mood disorders. Kerrie Eyers is a psychologist based at the Black Dog Institute, Sydney. Gordon Parker and Kerrie Eyers are editors of the bestselling Journeys with the Black Dog and several other books on depression. Philip Boyce is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Sydney, Professorial Fellow at the Black Dog Institute, and an international expert on postnatal depression.

Reviews

[Dionne Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

FMT as a treatment for biploar is the future of medicine. This book provides hope to sufferers and their family; and will spark conversations leading to funding for researchers on standby for clinical trials. Jane Dudley's story of wellness, after decades of incapacity, is shared by her eloquently with authentic vulnerablity. Her ecologist husband, Alexander, speaks from his scientific background and the love story of his desperate search to heal his wife. Author Prof Parker interweaves medical science and human story telling in a book that helped me gain more insight into mood disorders than years of reading and discussions with psychiatrists. This book left me with hope and I'm moved by the love story leading to a medical frontier.

[Sarah Mck · Rating 5 out of 5]

snippets into the future of health care
very promising and very exciting