Altered function of peripheral organ systems in first-episode drug naive mental illnesses: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The study examined the function of peripheral organ systems (cardiovascular, metabolic, immune, liver, kidney, lung and musculoskeletal) in patients with first-episode drug-naive mental illness: schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. The analysis included 138 studies, of which 105 were eligible for meta-analysis. In schizophrenia, elevated levels of HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, glucose, neutrophils, monocytes and systolic blood pressure were found, along with reduced albumin levels. In major depressive disorder, elevated inflammatory markers TNF and IL-10 were identified. In both schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, elevated levels of IL-6 and interferon gamma were detected. The results suggest that alterations in peripheral organ systems characterize the onset of psychiatric disorders, although research in this area remains limited.