Compliant gluten-free children with celiac disease: an evaluation of psychological distress

Abstract

BackgroundChildren with chronic illnesses are known to have increased risks for emotional and behavioral problems. In the present study, children and adolescent suffering from celiac disease (CD) were compared with healthy controls to assess differences in the psychological profile.MethodsA total of 100 well-treated and compliant CD patients (65 females/35 males; age mean ± SD: 10.38 ± 2.71) were compared to 100 normal controls (58 females/42 males; age mean ± SD: 11.47 ± 2.61). Emotional and behavioral problems were assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC).ResultsSubjects with CD self-reported an increased rate of anxiety and depression symptoms and showed higher scores in "harm avoidance" and "somatic complaints", in the CBCL parent-report questionnaire, as compared to healthy control subjects. Furthermore, gender differences could be observed in the group of CD patients, with males displaying significantly higher CBCL externalizing scores, in social, thought and attention problems, as compared to female, who in turns showed more prominent internalizing symptoms such as depression.ConclusionsThe increased rate of emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescent with CD emphasizes the importance of an early detection of mental health problems in these children.

Bidirectional relationship between eating disorders and autoimmune diseases

“…In addition, the strict gluten‐free diet effective in the treatment of celiac disease could adversely influence patients’ health‐related quality of life (Almagro, Almagro, Ruiz, González, & Martínez, ; McAllister, Williams, & Clarke, ), especially for adolescents (Mazzone et al., ). The permanent dietary restriction and vigilant monitoring necessary can foster preoccupation with, and anxiety about eating, potentially increasing the risk for pathological eating behaviors (Arigo, Anskis, & Smyth, ).…”

The progression of coeliac disease: its neurological and psychiatric implications

“…It has been shown that children and adolescents with CD may have emotional and behavioural problems (104) . Most CD patients showed significantly higher scores of anxiety, harm avoidance, separation panic and somatic complaints, even after the introduction of dietary regimens.…”

Diminished quality of life among adolescents with coeliac disease using maladaptive eating behaviours to manage a gluten‐free diet: a cross‐sectional, mixed‐methods study

“…Adherence and self-advocacy are particularly problematic for adolescents as they venture outside of the home and become more independent (13,14) . The focus on food and eating behaviours, and possibly even adherence to a GFD, may be associated with an increased risk of psychosocial problems and disordered eating patterns and behaviours in adolescents with CD (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21) .…”