ABSTRACT
With the rapid change in lifestyle in recent years, the prevalence rate of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing year by year and it has gradually become one of the major causes of chronic liver diseases. With the development of the bio-psycho-social medical model, the influence of psychological diseases on physical diseases has attracted the attention of scholars. At present, evidence has shown that anxiety, as one of the most common type of mental disorders, may be associated with the development of NAFLD. This article introduces the current status of research on anxiety and NAFLD and their common influencing factors and predicts the possible pathophysiological mechanism of NAFLD caused by anxiety, so as to lay a foundation for further research on the association between anxiety and NAFLD and provide new directions for the treatment of NAFLD.
ABSTRACT
At present, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the most common chronic liver diseases in the world. With the development of the bio-psycho-social medical model, the mental health problems of patients with NAFLD are gradually attracting more and more attention. In recent years, more and more studies have been conducted on the association between NAFLD and psychiatric diseases, especially depression. Studies have shown that there is a significant correlation between NAFLD and depression; however, the common pathophysiological mechanism of such correlation is still unclear and further studies are needed to determine their causal relationship and treatment. This article reviews the research advances in the association between NAFLD and depression, common pathophysiological mechanism, and treatment, so as to lay a foundation for further research on these two disease and help with their prevention and treatment in future clinical practice.