Psychiatric Problems of Children with Glucose-6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency

G6PD deficiency is a genetic enzymatic defect, which affects approximately one hundred million people. The Mediterranean variants are known to be associated with hemolysis, particularly in childhood. However, hemolysis also occurs in Black American G6PD deficient children. It can cause kernicterus, especially in the presence of factors which enhance the passage of bilirubin through the blood-brain barrier. In the framework of a routine examination of elementary school pupils with the TPE teacher questionnaire, thirty-seven G6PD deficient boys from one school and thirty-seven paired matched controls from the same school were examined for brain dysfunction. The G6PD deficient boys showed significantly more hyperkinesis, writing problems, aggression and a strong trend towards mood changes. Speech defects also occurred more often in the G6PD deficient children. The findings are discussed.