A preliminary investigation of ADHD symptoms in persons with celiac disease.
OBJECTIVE
Several studies report a possible association of celiac disease (CD) with psychiatric and psychological disturbances, such as ADHD.


METHODS
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).


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Niederhofer
Helmut
H
Regional Hospital of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy. helmutniederhofer@yahoo.de
Pittschieler
Klaus
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005983:Glutens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D005983:Glutens