Objective: Several studies report a possible association of celiac disease (CD) with psychiatric and psychological disturbances, such as ADHD.
Method: The authors assess 132 participants from 3 to 57 years of age (M = 19.3 years) affected by CD for the possibility of an associated ADHD-like symptomatology, using the Conner Scale Hypescheme, a behavioral scale similar to the Conners Rating Scales, before their gluten-free diet was started and 6 months later.
Results: The overall score improves significantly as well as most of the ADHD-like symptomatology specific features (Bonferroni-corrected, paired-sample t tests).
Conclusion: The data indicate that ADHD-like symptomatology is markedly overrepresented among untreated CD patients and that a gluten-free diet may improve symptoms significantly within a short period of time. The results of this study also suggest that CD should be included in the list of diseases associated with ADHD-like symptomatology.
Addolorato, G., Stefanini, G. F., Capristo, E., Caputo, F., Gasbarrini, A., & Gasbarrini, G. (1996). Anxiety and depression in adult untreated celiac subjects and in patients affected by inflammatory bowel disease: A personality “trait” or a reactive illness?Hepatogastroenterology, 43, 1513-1517.
2.
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
3.
Barbaresi, W. J., Katusic, S. K., Colligan, R. C., Pankratz, V. S., Weaver, A. L., Weber, K. J., et al. (2002). How common is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder? Incidence in a population-based birth cohort in Rochester, Minn. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 156, 217-224.
4.
Bruzelius, M., Liedholm, L. J., & Hellblom, M. (2001). Celiac disease can be associated with severe neurological symptoms. Analysis of gliadin antibodies should be considered in suspected cases. Lakartidningen, 98, 3538-3542.
5.
Catassi, C., Fabiani, E., Ratsch, I., Coppa, G., Giorgi, P., & Pierdomenico, R. (1996). The coeliac iceberg in Italy. A multicentre antigliadin antibodies screening for coeliac disease in school-age subjects. Acta Paediatrica Supplement, 412, 29-35.
6.
Ciacci, C., Lavarone, A., Mazzacca, G., & De Rosa, A. (1998). Depressive symptoms in adult coeliac disease. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 33, 247-250.
7.
Corvaglia, L., Catamo, R., Pepe, O., Lazzarri, R., & Corvaglia, E. (1999). Depression in adult untreated celiac subjects: Diagnosis by the pediatrician. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 94, 839-843.
8.
Curran, S., Newman, S., Taylor, E., & Asherson, P. (2000). Hypescheme: An operational criteria checklist and minimum data set for molecular genetic studies of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 96, 244-250.
9.
DeSantis, A., Addolorato, G., Romito, A., Caputo, S., Giordano, A., Gambassi, G., et al. (1997). Schizophrenic symptoms and SPECT abnormalities in a coeliac patient: Regression after gluten-free diet. Journal of Internal Medicine, 242, 421-423.
10.
Dohan, F. C., Martin, L., Grasberger, J. C., Boehme, D., & Cottrell, J. C. (1972). Antibodies to wheat gliadin in blood of psychiatric patients possible role of emotional factors. Biological Psychiatry, 5, 127-137.
11.
Feigbery, C. (1999). Celiac disease: Clinical review. British Medical Journal, 319, 23-29.
12.
Ghezzi, A., & Zaffaroni, M. (2001). Neurological manifestations of gastrointestinal disorders, with particular reference to the differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Neurological Sciences, 22(suppl. 2), S117-S122.
13.
Guevara, J. P., & Stein, M. T. (2001). Evidence based management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. British Medical Journal, 323, 1322-1325.
14.
Hadjivassiliou, M., Gibson, A., Davies-Jones, G., Lobo, A., Stephenson, T., & Milford-Ward, A. (1996). Does cryptic gluten sensitivity play part in neurological illness?Lancet, 347, 369-371.
15.
Hadjivassiliou, M., Grunewald, R., Cbattopadhya, A., Davies-Jones, S., Gibson, A., Jarrat, J., et al. (1998). Clinical, radiological, and neuropathological characteristics of gluten ataxia. Lancet, 352, 1582-1585.
16.
Hallert, C., & Astrom, J. (1982). Psychic disturbances in adult coeliac disease. 2. Psychological findings. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 17, 21-24.
17.
Hallert, C., & Derefeldt, T. (1982). Psychic disturbances in adult celiac disease. 1. Clinical observations. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 17, 17-19.
18.
Hollingshead, A., & Redlich, R. C. (1958). Social class and mental illness. New York: John Wiley.
19.
Hernanz, A., & Polanco, I. (1991). Plasma precursor amino acids of central nervous system monoamines in children with coeliac disease. Gut, 32, 1478-1481.
20.
Knivsberg, A. M. (1997). Urine patterns, peptide levels and IgA/IgG antibodies to food proteins in children with dyslexia. Pediatric Rehabilitation, 1, 25-33.
21.
Kolho, K. I., Farkkila, M. A., & Savilahti, E. (1998). Undiagnosed coeliac disease is common in Finnish adults. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 33, 1280-1283.
22.
Kozlowska, Z. E. (1991). Evaluation of mental status of children with malabsorption syndrome after long-term treatment with gluten-free diet (preliminary report). Psychiatria Polska, 25, 130-134.
23.
Maki, M., & CoHin, P. (1997). Celiac disease. Lancet, 349, 1755-1759.
24.
Not, T., Horvath, K., Hill, I. D., Partanen, J., Hammed, A., Magazzu, G., et al. (1998). Celiac disease risk in the USA: High prevalence of antiendomysium antibodies in healthy blood donors. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 33, 494-498.
25.
Pfeffer, C., McBride, A., Anderson, G., Kakuma, T., Fensterheim, L., & Klialt, V. (1998). Peripheral serotonin measures in prepubertal psychiatric inpatients and normal children: Association with suicidal behavior and its risk factors. Biological Psychiatry, 44, 568-577.
26.
Pynnonen, P., Isomets, E., Aalberg, V., Verkasab, M., & Savilahti, E. (2002). Is coeliac disease prevalent among adolescent psychiatric patients?Acta Paedeatrica, 91, 657-659.
27.
Ricca, V., Mannucci, E., Calabro, A., Bernardo, M. D., Cabras, P. L., & Rotell, C. M. (2000). Anorexia nervosa and celiac disease: Two case reports. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 27, 119-122.
28.
Rolmes, O. K. T. (1996). Non-malignant complication s of celiac disease. Acta Paediatrica, 412, 68-75.
29.
Smith, K., Fairburn, C., & Cowen, P. (1997). Relapse of depression after rapid depletion of tryptophan. Lancet, 349, 915-919.
30.
van Praag, H. M. (1998). Anxiety and increased aggression as pacemakers of depression. Acta Psychiatrica Scandanavica, 98 (Suppl. 393), 81-88.
31.
World Health Organization. (1998). International classification of diseases (Version 10). Seattle, WA: Author.
