Anybody With Celiac Have Psychosis

[mamatino]

I have an 18 year old that was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder at age 12. After seeing a prominent neurologist/psychiatrist/pharmachologist we began having various testing done to rule out an organic cause (which this doctor believes is causing the psychosis). His primary care doctor got on board and ran a bunch of blood work and it shows he has a double gene for Celiac and is severely allergic to gluten, wheat barley, rye, etc., and also to milk, eggs and corn. Another more detailed allergy test is being run to get a clear picture of exactly what else needs to be removed from his diet.

I've seen several sites on the internet that connect Celiac with schizophrenia. Has anyone had psychosis disappear after going on a gluten-free diet?

[RiceGuy]

Yes, a number of members here have reported various neurological issues clearing up once on a gluten-free diet. Many also find milk and/or other things are often involved.

Here is a list of diseases and disorders which have been linked to Celiac Disease:

https://www.celiac.com/categories/Celiac-Di...-and-Disorders/

Welcome to the board!

[Gentleheart]

Many new research doctors on the gluten scene have stated that there seems to be a definite connection between a sensitivity to gluten and schizophrenia. I'm reading about it everywhere. Dairy seems to be especially significant as well and yes, there have been recoveries reported after full removal of gluten and all the other offending allergens. Lots of hope.

[cat3883]

All my symptoms were neurological. I had severe depression and anxiety that put me over the top. I was dianosed with celiac on October 15, 2008. I now consider that my new birthday!! It is exactly 4 months since I have been gluten free. I feel like I am 20 years old (I am 49). My GI told me I will be able to go off my meds one year from my diagnosis as the brain takes longer to heal. My GI also says that alot of neurological problems may be able to be controlled with a gluten free diet. He also says all people with fibromialgia should be tested. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE try this for your son. You may be amazed. It might not take all problems away but if your son could just get some relief wouldn't that be a blessing. Good luck to you and your family.

[mamatino]

Thank you all for your additional information and for the support. Any relief my son can get from this horrendous disease (schizophrenia) would be such a blessing. Maybe Celiac is his blessing in disguise . The antipsychotics he has been on (for the last 6 years) have made him gain alot of weight. Between his gluten free diet and him eating more natural healthy foods, he's lost 16 pounds in the last month! So he's already benefiting from being gluten free! Thanks again!

[markbufano]

I have an 18 year old that was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder at age 12. After seeing a prominent neurologist/psychiatrist/pharmachologist we began having various testing done to rule out an organic cause (which this doctor believes is causing the psychosis). His primary care doctor got on board and ran a bunch of blood work and it shows he has a double gene for Celiac and is severely allergic to gluten, wheat barley, rye, etc., and also to milk, eggs and corn. Another more detailed allergy test is being run to get a clear picture of exactly what else needs to be removed from his diet.

I've seen several sites on the internet that connect Celiac with schizophrenia. Has anyone had psychosis disappear after going on a gluten-free diet?

Celiac only came up for us last month. My four boys and I all have the symptoms. My 14 year old is awaiting our fisrt dx. One of my sons is shcizophrenic,2 more have psychotic disorders,my 14 year old has ringing in the ears.

After the mention of celiac disease I went on the net and have practicly been on ever since.I have already heard and read about many schizo remission cases. All of us also have other related problems such as ADHD, depression, etc.. I believe there is hope for us. Perhaps we can stay in touch and share our rewards. I have already gone GFD, my sons will start next week.

Peace and all Good! Mark

[mamatino]

Celiac only came up for us last month. My four boys and I all have the symptoms. My 14 year old is awaiting our fisrt dx. One of my sons is shcizophrenic,2 more have psychotic disorders,my 14 year old has ringing in the ears.

After the mention of celiac disease I went on the net and have practicly been on ever since.I have already heard and read about many schizo remission cases. All of us also have other related problems such as ADHD, depression, etc.. I believe there is hope for us. Perhaps we can stay in touch and share our rewards. I have already gone GFD, my sons will start next week.

Peace and all Good! Mark

[mamatino]

My son has been on his gluten free, corn free, dairy free, egg free, milk free diet for over 6 weeks now. His auditory hallucinations have quieted down substantially and his visuals are occurring about every 3-4 days, rather than randomly throughout every day. For once in his life he is beginning to feel hope! It's a beautiful thing!

Hopefully, continuing his allergy free diet will free him from the schizophrenia. It's sure looking like that is where it's heading. I'll keep you posted! Thanks again...

[markbufano]

My son has been on his gluten free, corn free, dairy free, egg free, milk free diet for over 6 weeks now. His auditory hallucinations have quieted down substantially and his visuals are occurring about every 3-4 days, rather than randomly throughout every day. For once in his life he is beginning to feel hope! It's a beautiful thing!

Hopefully, continuing his allergy free diet will free him from the schizophrenia. It's sure looking like that is where it's heading. I'll keep you posted! Thanks again...

[markbufano]

Wow!!!That is such good news for me. It took four years of changeing meds just for my son to stablize. He still hears voices though. Thank you so much. I'm filled with so much hope I'm about to cry. I am so happy for your son. Yes agree this just may be the biggest blessing in our lives.

My guts have been wasting away for 39 years. This is my 3rd day GFD, I can't believe things are happening this fast. I have been dx with everything you can image from the mouth down. I have been almost pain free the last 2 days. This morning I experienced my second solid stool in over 20 years.

Thank you so much for the good news.

[Gluten-Free Mom]

Yes. My seven-year-old daughter has celiac, and whenever she accidentally ingests any amount of gluten, say, from someone giving her something at school, she gets an immediate migraine, she throws up, her stomach hurts, and the following day (although sometimes the same day), her personality changes and she becomes, well, psychotic. She also breaks out in eczema. She threatens to kill me and everybody else in the house; sometimes she threatens to kill herself; she screams, she lashes out, she gets physical, kicking, biting, hitting and flailing. This is not her "normal" personality. I even had to restrain her from going after her baby sister for picking a flower. She turns into a person I don't recognize. It's horrible and it happens like clockwork. That's how I know if she's eaten anything she shouldn't have while not under my watchful eye. If she hasn't had gluten, she's a wonderful, loving child with no anger. If I didn't know about celiac and gluten, I would have taken her to a psychiatrist who more-than-likely would have prescribed meds.

My son who's five, has not been diagnosed, but because his sister was on a gluten-free diet, he was pretty much on one too. In two months he went from being a completely hyper, out-of-control little boy who could never sit still or stay with me, to a calm, studious, caring little boy. He went from throwing furniture and hurling dinosaurs across the room in preschool to the model student. His teachers said they'd never seen a change like that in such a short amount of time. To test this, I made him "normal" banana muffins. He ate four and I found him about fifteen minutes later, completely naked, jumping up and down on the couch, flailing his head around in circles and he couldn't hear me. He did this for 45 minutes. It took him 3 days to return to normal. He seemed autistic to me. Anyone would have thought so right then. He's been gluten-free ever since.

[artistsl]

On 2/14/2009 at 5:37 AM, mamatino said:

I have an 18 year old that was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder at age 12. After seeing a prominent neurologist/psychiatrist/pharmachologist we began having various testing done to rule out an organic cause (which this doctor believes is causing the psychosis). His primary care doctor got on board and ran a bunch of blood work and it shows he has a double gene for Celiac and is severely allergic to gluten, wheat barley, rye, etc., and also to milk, eggs and corn. Another more detailed allergy test is being run to get a clear picture of exactly what else needs to be removed from his diet.

I've seen several sites on the internet that connect Celiac with schizophrenia. Has anyone had psychosis disappear after going on a gluten-free diet?

Yes, my 4 year old son experiences the same symptoms. All neurological in nature. The hallucinations, insomnia, strange finger posturing, etc go away when gluten is removed from his diet and come back when gluten is reintroduced into his diet. We are currently gluten free and living a normal life again (until he eats a handful of cheese its at school because he just can't resist the temptation). What specialist do you see to have the full food allergy panel performed? A gastroenterologist? An allergist? We have given up on our neurologists who have completed the full extent of their medical work up and referred us outside of their department so that he can be placed on anti psychotic meds.