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Mental Health Disorders and Psychosocial Distress in Pediatric Celiac Disease

Shayna Coburn1, Meredith Rose2, Maegan Sady3

  • 1Celiac Disease Program, Division of Gastroenterology.

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|December 28, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Children with celiac disease (CeD) frequently experience mental health disorders (MHD), leading to increased distress for both children and parents. Early psychological screening and support are crucial for managing these comorbidities and the challenges of a gluten-free diet (GFD).

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Child Psychology
  • Celiac Disease Research

Background:

  • Celiac disease (CeD) is increasingly linked to mental health disorders (MHD) and psychosocial distress in children.
  • These psychological comorbidities can complicate adherence to the gluten-free diet (GFD), a critical treatment for CeD.
  • Understanding the psychological needs of children with CeD is essential for comprehensive care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine psychological comorbidities in children diagnosed with celiac disease.
  • To assess the prevalence of mental health disorders in this pediatric population.
  • To evaluate the psychosocial distress experienced by children and parents related to CeD and the GFD.

Main Methods:

  • A single-center cross-sectional study involving 73 parents of children (ages 3-18) with CeD.
  • Parents completed electronic surveys on their child's MHD history, psychological symptoms, and GFD experiences.
  • MHD rates were compared to national population data; psychosocial symptoms were analyzed based on child age, time since diagnosis, and MHD status.

Main Results:

  • 34% of children with CeD had at least one MHD, with anxiety disorders (16%) and ADHD (16%) being significantly more common than in the general population.
  • Over a quarter of parents reported current psychosocial distress in their child (28%-39%), and about half reported parent stress (51%) and financial burden (46%) due to the GFD.
  • Children with MHD exhibited higher levels of anxiety, anger, overall distress, and parent-reported distress compared to those without MHD.

Conclusions:

  • Comorbid celiac disease and mental health disorders are common in children and associated with significant psychosocial distress for both the child and their family.
  • The findings highlight the critical need for integrated psychological screening and support services within celiac disease care.
  • Addressing MHD and mitigating GFD-related distress are vital for improving the overall well-being of children with CeD.
Abstract

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