Risk factors for antipsychotic- and antidepressant-associated liver function abnormalities: A retrospective unmatched...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Pharmacology
• Hepatology

Background:

• Antipsychotics (APs) and antidepressants (ADs) are main treatments for psychiatric disorders.
• Drug-induced liver injury and biochemical abnormalities are significant safety concerns.
• Early identification of risk factors can improve patient monitoring and prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors associated with liver function abnormalities in psychiatric patients undergoing AP and/or AD treatment.
• To inform clinical practice regarding patient monitoring and preventive strategies.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case-control study of 708 discharged patients (354 cases, 354 controls).
• Data collected from Xuzhou Oriental Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University (January-December 2025).
• Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify associated factors.

Main Results:

• Male sex, age ≥60 years, obesity, dysglycemia, and dyslipidemia were independently associated with liver function abnormalities.
• Longer length of stay and medication history ≤1 year also correlated with increased risk.
• Olanzapine was the most frequent AP/AD exposure in patients with abnormalities, though not indicative of comparative risk.

Conclusions:

• Liver function abnormalities in psychiatric patients on APs/ADs primarily manifest as biochemical changes.
• Specific patient demographics and comorbidities significantly increase the risk of liver function abnormalities.
• Findings support targeted liver function monitoring for at-risk patients, pending multicenter validation.