Table 3 Take-home ideas about non-alcoholic fatty liver disease related to psychiatric illnesses
SUMMARY PANEL | |
|---|---|
NAFLD = strongly related to MetS NASH = steatosis + inflammation | |
NAFLD and NASH are core elements driving metabolic diseases that are often neglected. NASH implies a high risk of progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. | |
Psychiatric conditions and NAFLD are bidirectionally related. Rates of NAFLD and NASH in psychiatric patients are high. 60% of the excess mortality in psychiatric patients is due to physical comorbidities. | |
Some common factors between psychiatric and metabolic disorders are: genetic (adiponutrin, microRNA), mitochondrial and oxidative stress dysregulations, dysbiosis, psychological factors and lifestyle (diet and exercise). | |
Possible treatments include changes in lifestyle, insulin sensitizers or statins. | |
Diagnosis involves imaging and histology; therefore, widespread screening is difficult. Some questionnaires and biological markers are being investigated in order to make diagnosis easier and less invasive. | |
Being aware of covert hepatic disorders and achieving an early diagnosis and adequate treatment could potentially benefit psychiatric patients in terms of prognosis and quality of life. |