Depressive symptoms in adult coeliac disease

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology Vol. 33; no. 3; p. 247
• Main Authors: Ciacci, C, Iavarone, A, Mazzacca, G, De Rosa, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 1998
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Celiac Disease - psychology; Depression - diagnosis; Depression - etiology; Female; Humans; Male; Psychological Tests
• ISSN: 0036-5521; 1502-7708
• DOI: 10.1080/00365529850170801

Psychic symptoms and depression have been reported in coeliac disease (CD). The aim of this study was to explore depression in a large cohort of adult CD patients. Depressive symptoms were evaluated in 92 adult coeliacs, 100 normal controls (NC), and 48 chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) patients by means of a modified version of the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (M-SDS). CD patients were evaluated for the level of knowledge about CD and the compliance with diet. The M-SDS score differentiated CD patients from NC. Age at diagnosis and duration of and compliance with diet did not correlate with depression. Three main factors could be identified with the M-SDS: 'reactiveness', 'pessimism', and 'anhedonic-asthenic'. Depressive symptoms are a feature of CD; they are present to a similar extent in patients with childhood- and adulthood-diagnosed CD. The results underline the relevance of personal psychologic resources, which play a fundamental role in determining and sustaining depression.