L'associazione tra Celiachia e disturbi psichiatrici, il ruolo della dieta gluten-free e dell'autoimmunità tiroidea

With a prevalence of 1% in the western population Celiac Disease (CD) is one of the most common autoimmune disorders and can present a variety of psychiatric comorbidities. These comorbidities often worsen quality of life and prognosis of patients. In the first part of this research the main scientific studies aiming to assess the association between CD and psychiatric disorders will be discussed. Studies concerning the impairment of quality of life and factors may play a role on dietary treatment adherence will be discussed. Some assumptions on the possible common pathogenesis between CD and psychiatric disorders with a particolar focus on the role of autoimmunity will be reported. Given the increasing attention to gluten-free diet treatment, studies where its effects has been evaluated on patients with psychiatric diagnosis will be reviewed. In the second part of this research the results of an observational study with the subsequent creation of cases-control involving 66 patients with CD recruited at the Gastroenterology Unit of the University Hospital of Cagliari, will be presented. The study has mainly stressed autoimmune comorbidities and the role of the late diet treatment introduction as determining the potential risk of developing a psychiatric disorder and specifically Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).