Celiac Disease in the Pediatric Setting: Anxiety, Depression, and Beyond

Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune condition wherein ingesting the gluten protein found in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye damages the villi of the small intestine. Left untreated, celiac disease leads to significant nutritional deficiencies that can result in life-altering gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms at the minimum and at the worst, cancer and even death. With the treatment of a gluten-free diet, many of these symptoms are mitigated; however, this restrictive diet results in life-altering impacts, including poor health-related quality of life and adherence concerns, especially in adolescent patients. This chapter discusses what is known about the biopsychosocial impact of managing celiac disease and the gluten-free diet on the pediatric patient and their family.