Catharina Lavebratt Team

The aim of our research is to identify early life risk and health factors for childhood psychiatric disorders. In particular, we investigate the role of the gut bacterial microbiome in ADHD, with the goal of providing adjunct, or alternative, treatments for ADHD. We use nation-wide register data, clinical cohorts and cellular models.

• The gut microbiome in ADHD – a target for adjunct therapy?
• Exposures during pregnancy and the risk for childhood psychiatric disorders
• Effects of peer-led physical exercise in psychosis patients (the national FitforLife study)

Catharina Lavebratt, associate professor, catharina.lavebratt@ki.se

Jessica Allerborg, affiliated to research, research nurse

Buse Yel Bektash, doctoral student

Wenjie Cai, doctoral student

MaiBritt Giacobini, affiliated to research, MD PhD

Mika Gissler, principal researcher

Annelie Gustafsson, affiliated to research, research nurse

Martin Schalling, professor

Miranda Stiernborg, postdoc

Offspring exposure to Crohn’s disease during pregnancy and association with milder psychiatric regulatory disturbances in childhood.

Skott E, Söderberg G, Giacobini M, Nivins S, Chen X, Lindqvist D, Gissler M, Sjöberg K, Lavebratt C. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2025 Aug;104(8):1463-1474. PMID: 40492456

Multispecies synbiotics alleviate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis: Effects on clinical scores, intestinal pathology, and plasma biomarkers in male and female mice. Cai W, Pierzynowska K, Stiernborg M, Xu J, Nilsson IA, Svensson U, Melas PA, Lavebratt C. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2024 Oct;63:74-83. PMID: 38923468

Prenatal exposure to maternal hypertension and higher body mass index and risks of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders during childhood.

Nivins S, Kumar P, Chen X, Gissler M, Lavebratt C.

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2025 Feb;104(2):319-330. PMID: 39611242

Maternal Eating Disorders, Body Mass Index, and Offspring Psychiatric Diagnoses.
Nilsson IAK, Ozsvar J, Gissler M, Lavebratt C
JAMA Netw Open 2024 Oct;7(10):e2440517 PMID: 39436646

Association of preterm birth and birth size status with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders in spontaneous births.
Kong L, Nivins S, Chen X, Liang Y, Gissler M, Lavebratt C
Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024 Jun;():

Efficacy of a synbiotic in the management of adults with Attention-Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder and/or Borderline Personality Disorder and high levels of irritability: Results from a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, “basket” trial.Arteaga-Henríquez G, Ramos-Sayalero C, Ibañez-Jimenez P, Karina Rosales-Ortiz S, Kilencz T, Schiweck C, Schnorr I, Siegl A, Arias-Vasquez A, Bitter I, Fadeuilhe C, Ferrer M, Lavebratt C, Matura S, Reif A, Réthelyi JM, Richarte V, Rommelse N, Antoni Ramos-Quiroga J. Brain Behav Immun. 2024 Jun 15;120:360-371.

Inflammatory biotype of ADHD is linked to chronic stress: a data-driven analysis of the inflammatory proteome.
Schnorr I, Siegl A, Luckhardt S, Wenz S, Friedrichsen H, El Jomaa H, Steinmann A, Kilencz T, Arteaga-Henríquez G, Ramos-Sayalero C, Ibanez-Jimenez P, Rosales-Ortiz SK, Bitter I, Fadeuilhe C, Ferrer M, Lavebratt C, Réthelyi JM, Richarte V, Rommelse N, Ramos-Quiroga JA, Arias-Vasquez A, Resch E, Reif A, Matura S, Schiweck C
Transl Psychiatry 2024 Jan;14(1):37

Bacterial gut microbiome differences in adults with ADHD and in children with ADHD on psychostimulant medication.
Stiernborg M, Debelius JW, Yang LL, Skott E, Millischer V, Giacobini M, Melas PA, Boulund F, Lavebratt C
Brain Behav Immun 2023 May;110():310-321

Effects of a Synbiotic on Plasma Immune Activity Markers and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Children and Adults with ADHD-A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Yang LL, Stiernborg M, Skott E, Xu J, Wu Y, Landberg R, Arefin S, Kublickiene K, Millischer V, Nilsson IAK, Schalling M, Giacobini M, Lavebratt C
Nutrients 2023 Mar;15(5):

Birth outcomes in mothers with hypertensive disorders and polycystic ovary syndrome: a population-based cohort study.
Chen X, Gissler M, Lavebratt C
Hum Reprod Open 2023 ;2023(4):hoad048

Exposures during pregnancy and at birth are associated with the risk of offspring eating disorders.
Ozsvar J, Gissler M, Lavebratt C, Nilsson IAK
Int J Eat Disord 2023 Dec;56(12):2232-2249

Lower plasma concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in patients with ADHD.

Yang LL, Stiernborg M, Skott E, Gillberg T, Landberg R, Giacobini M, Lavebratt C. J Psychiatr Res. 2022 Dec;156:36-43. PMID: 36228390

Association of maternal polycystic ovary syndrome or anovulatory infertility with obesity and diabetes in offspring: a population-based cohort study.
Chen X, Koivuaho E, Piltonen TT, Gissler M, Lavebratt C
Hum Reprod 2021 Jul;36(8):2345-2357

Association of maternal polycystic ovary syndrome and diabetes with preterm birth and offspring birth size: a population-based cohort study.
Chen X, Gissler M, Lavebratt C
Hum Reprod 2022 Mar;():

Association of Preeclampsia and Perinatal Complications With Offspring Neurodevelopmental and Psychiatric Disorders.
Kong L, Chen X, Liang Y, Forsell Y, Gissler M, Lavebratt C
JAMA Netw Open 2022 01;5(1):e2145719

Effects of a synbiotic on symptoms, and daily functioning in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – A double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Skott E, Yang LL, Stiernborg M, Söderström Å, Rȕegg J, Schalling M, Forsell Y, Giacobini M, Lavebratt C. Brain Behav Immun. 2020 Oct;89:9-19.

Proinflammatory mediators and their associations with medication and comorbid traits in children and adults with ADHD.

Yang LL, Stiernborg M, Skott E, Söderström Å, Giacobini M, Lavebratt C. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2020 Nov 4:S0924-977X(20)30914-7.

Association of polycystic ovary syndrome or anovulatory infertility with offspring psychiatric and mild neurodevelopmental disorders: a Finnish population-based cohort study.
Chen X, Kong L, Piltonen TT, Gissler M, Lavebratt C
Hum Reprod 2020 10;35(10):2336-2347

Relationship of prenatal maternal obesity and diabetes to offspring neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders: a narrative review.
Kong L, Chen X, Gissler M, Lavebratt C
Int J Obes (Lond) 2020 10;44(10):1981-2000

Associations of Different Types of Maternal Diabetes and Body Mass Index With Offspring Psychiatric Disorders.
Kong L, Nilsson IAK, Brismar K, Gissler M, Lavebratt C
JAMA Netw Open 2020 02;3(2):e1920787

Early exposure to antibiotic drugs and risk for psychiatric disorders: a population-based study.

Lavebratt C, Yang LL, Giacobini M, Forsell Y, Schalling M, Partonen T, Gissler M.Transl Psychiatry. 2019 Nov 26;9(1):317. doi: 10.1038/s41398-019-0653-9.PMID: 31772217

Enteric short-chain fatty acids promote proliferation of human neural progenitor cells.

Yang LL, Millischer V, Rodin S, MacFabe DF, Villaescusa JC, Lavebratt C.J Neurochem. 2020 Sep;154(6):635-646. doi: 10.1111/jnc.14928. Epub 2019 Dec 18.PMID: 31784978

Associations of Maternal Diabetes and Body Mass Index With Offspring Birth Weight and Prematurity.
Kong L, Nilsson IAK, Gissler M, Lavebratt C
JAMA Pediatr 2019 04;173(4):371-378

The Risk of Offspring Psychiatric Disorders in the Setting of Maternal Obesity and Diabetes.
Kong L, Norstedt G, Schalling M, Gissler M, Lavebratt C
Pediatrics 2018 09;142(3):

Recent theses:

Yang, Liu (2020). Exploring the gut-brain axis in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Karolinska Institutet. Thesis. https://hdl.handle.net/10616/47412

Kong, Linghua (2021). Prenatal metabolic risks for offspring neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Karolinska Institutet. Thesis. https://hdl.handle.net/10616/47706

Stiernborg, Miranda (2024). Exploring the gut microbiome in ADHD and schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Karolinska Institutet. Thesis. https://hdl.handle.net/10616/49001

Skott, Elin (2024). Exploring synbiotic treatment in ADHD, and immune-mediated prenatal risks for neurodevelopmental disorders. Karolinska Institutet. Thesis. https://hdl.handle.net/10616/49163