Hepatic encephalopathy is a neuropsychiatric syndrome that can complicate acute and chronic liver disease. Recent research has focused on the role benzodiazepine-like substances play in the pathogenesis of this disorder. It has been proposed that potentiation of the action of the neuroinhibitory transmitter γr-aminobutyric acid (GABA) through the binding of endogenous benzodiazepine agonists to the benzodiazepine receptor binding site accounts for the clinical and biochemical features of this condition.