Woman's Gluten-Induced Psychosis Sparks Murderous Rage Against Parents

Celiac.com 01/19/2021 - Typically, when people with celiac disease eat gluten, they experience gastrointestinal discomfort, or even symptoms like a skin rash, anemia, and headaches. In some extreme cases, though, the side effects could be much, much worse. But, in rare cases, celiac disease can manifest with psychiatric symptoms and behavioral disturbances. Interestingly, celiac disease in children often manifests mainly as behavioral disturbance, such as increased aggression or anxiety, with milder or absent gastrointestinal symptoms. That was the case with a 37-year-old, successful PhD student, from Massachusetts. 

Woman Begins to Have Delusions

The woman began experience severe unexplained hallucinations, paranoia. She became convinced that everyone she knew were conspiring against her, and that friends, family members and even strangers were acting out pre-scripted scenes in some kind of a “game.” Her dissociation from reality became so severe that she alarmed those around her, and they sought to get her help.

Doctors Suspect Psychotic Disorder

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The woman was admitted to a psychiatric hospital, where doctors diagnosed a psychotic disorder, and prescribed powerful antipsychotic drugs in order to control her symptoms. However, the drugs had practically no effect.

On follow-up, the doctors found the woman suffered from numerous mineral and vitamin deficiencies, along with thyroid problems. She had also lost a substantial amount of weight. Eventually, they screened her for celiac disease, and discovered that she had it.

Doctors Confirm Gluten Causing Woman's Delusions

Once the doctors confirmed celiac disease, they advised the woman to avoid gluten, and eat a standard gluten-free diet. 

However, the woman's delusions had not subsided, and she regarded the doctors as just another part of  the conspiracy of people working against her. This belief led her to completely disregarded the gluten-free diet.

Sadly, the woman's condition spiraled out of control, and she soon lost her job, her home, and became alienated from her family and friends.

After becoming homeless and desperate, the woman unsuccessfully attempted suicide. Fortunately, she was returned to the hospital, where she began to embrace a gluten-free diet.

Return to Normal on a Gluten-Free Diet

According to Dr. Alessio Fasano, Director of the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital, the woman's condition improved quickly. In no time, she was able to think clearly, and to understand that gluten had been causing her to have serious mental problems. The woman was remorseful, and apologetic for causing so much trouble.

Eating Gluten Leads to Murder Attempt

The woman began to follow her prescribed diet, but, after accidentally eating gluten, her psychosis returned, and she attempted to kill her parents. Thankfully, she did not succeed, but she was arrested, tried, and sent to prison.

The woman's case proves that, in rare cases, celiac disease can cause severe psychotic and other behavioral symptoms.

The Link Between Gluten and Psychosis

Researchers don't have much good information on the connection between gluten disease and mental disorders. Dr. Fasano suspects a connection lies in the human immune system.

When people with celiac disease eat gluten, they typically experience inflammation of the gut. Dr. Fasano believes that, in some cases, such as with the woman in question, gluten-triggered inflammation moves beyond the gut to the brain, which could explain the kind of psychotic delusions experienced by the woman.

A better understanding of the connection between gluten and psychosis in such cases could help improve the treatment of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. 

Until then, cases such as this are a reminder of just how much we don't know, and how much further we have to go in learning about and treating celiac disease in all its manifestations. 

Read more at oddee.com and  nejm.org