Celiac disease in patients with chronic psychiatric disorders

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of celiac disease in Iranian patients suffering from chronic depression or schizophrenia.

Background: Psychiatric disorders are common in untreated celiac disease.

Patients and methods: Two hundred Iranian inpatient men with in chronic phase of depressive disorders or schizophrenia, and 200 age-matched healthy male subjects were screened for celiac disease by anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies. The mean age of the study patients was 37 years.

Results: One (1%) schizophrenic and two (2%) depressive patients were positive for anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies; duodenal biopsy was not possible in these subjects. In the control group one (0.5%) individual was positive for anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies, but had normal duodenal histology. The difference between patients and controls was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: The frequency of celiac disease serology in schizophrenic and depressive inpatients was not significantly higher than that in the general population. We would therefore not advocate systematic serologic screening in these patients, but alertness to celiac disease should be kept in mind.