Sleep Disorders, Anxiety, and Depression in Children with Celiac Disease: A Clinical Evaluation

Abstract Objectives Celiac disease is an immune-mediated disorder with a broad clinical spectrum, including psychiatric components. Our study aimed to examine sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression in pediatric celiac disease. Methods The research was carried out within the Pediatric Gastroenterology Division of Erciyes University during the period from July 2022 to September 2023. Forty-seven children aged 6–12 with celiac disease diagnosed on the basis of serological findings and histopathological examination of small intestinal mucosal biopsies, were included, as well as forty-eight healthy children as controls. The patients answered questions measuring sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression. Results Depressive symptom scores were higher in patients with celiac disease than in the healthy control group (t= -4.636, p < 0.001). A marked difference was found in depression scores in patients with IgA-antibodies against transglutaminase ≥ 200 U/ml compared to those with < 200 U/ml (t= -4.152, p < 0.001). Compliance with a gluten-free diet was associated with lower depression scores and higher sleep scores, but these differences did not reach statistical significance. Depression scores were linked positively with anxiety scores ( r = 0.347, p = 0.017). Conclusions The findings suggest that children with celiac disease may have a higher burden of depressive symptoms, whereas anxiety and sleep-related symptoms require further evaluation in larger studies. Therefore, routine screening for sleep disorders and psychological comorbidities, specifically depression and anxiety, should be considered in children with celiac disease. Early recognition of symptoms related to mood disorders, as well as sleep disturbances are important to optimize patient management.