Depression and Its Association with Adherence to Gluten-Free Diet in Patients with Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a malabsorption disorder that could result in various psychological consequences if patients do not adhere to a gluten-free diet. This study aimed to determine the frequency of major depressive disorder and its relationship with adherence to a gluten-free diet among patients with celiac disease.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 47 patients with celiac disease (30 women and 17 men) with an average age of 40.88 ± 10.7 years who had been referred to the Golestan Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology during the summer of 2019. Patients were invited to complete a 13-item Beck Inventory. Celiac Dietary Adherence Test (CDAT) was used to assess adherence from the patients' point of view, and Standardized Dietician Evaluation (SDE) was used to evaluate adherence to the diet from the interviewer's perspective.

Overall, 28 people (59.6%) with celiac disease reported some degree of depression. Based on the SDE, the adherence rate of patients to a gluten-free diet was 83%. The association between adherence to a gluten-free diet and the prevalence of depression was not significant. There was also no significant association between the prevalence of depression and the gender and age of patients.

Based on the results, a high percentage of patients with celiac disease have symptoms of depression. However, there is no significant relationship between adherence to a gluten-free diet and the prevalence of depression.