title: The Pediatric Symptom Checklist as screening tool for neurological and psychosocial problems in a paediatric cohort of patients with coeliac disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To screen for neurological and behavioural disorders in a paediatric cohort of patients with coeliac disease (CD) in order to detect possible differences related to compliance with gluten-free diet (GFD).
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited a cohort of 139 patients divided into three groups: A (40 patients with newly diagnosed CD), B (54 patients with CD in remission after GFD) and C (45 patients with potential CD). Patients first underwent a screening neurological visit, detecting signs associated with CD, and then were evaluated with Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC), a psychosocial screen for cognitive, emotional and behavioural problems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the group B as compared to group A, there was a statistically significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the incidence of chronic fatigue, headache and inattention. The same applied to patients compliant to GFD vs. non-compliant. Potential coeliacs turning into overt CD had a higher incidence of headache and inattention compared with potential coeliacs showing normal mucosa. The PSC mean score in group A was statistically higher than in group B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gluten-free diet had a positive impact on neuropsychiatric symptoms. We suggest the use of PSC in the routine follow-up of coeliacs in order to allow an early detection of psychosocial problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. gaetanoterrone@virgilio.it
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Terrone
authors.forename: Iolanda
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Parente
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Auricchio
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Ennio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Del Giudice
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D055050:Diet, Gluten-Free; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies