Global study identifies mental health gaps for food allergy patients and caregivers - Children's National

Despite food allergies affecting millions globally, the mental health toll this population faces is still widely underrecognized.

While many patients and caregivers managing food allergies report psychological distress and the need for expert support, access to mental health professionals who also have food allergy (FA) expertise can be challenging.

A study conducted by researchers and clinicians around the world, including Linda Herbert, Ph.D., director of Psychology Research and Clinical Services for the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Children's National Hospital, gives insights into the experience of FA patients and caregivers and the barriers they face.

The results of the study are guiding food allergy professionals in the development of accessible resources for this specialized patient group.

The big picture

Research into the psychosocial needs of patients with food allergy is still fairly new, but Children's National has been a leader, with its Division of Allergy and Immunology among the first in the United States to establish a fully integrated psychology clinical and research program.

This study builds on that leadership by uniting experts worldwide to assess patient needs.

"This is the first time that researchers and clinicians in food allergy have come together to assess these needs on a global scale," Dr. Herbert said.

In the final sample of 1,907 caregivers and 1,329 adults with food allergy from 10 different countries, reports showed that 21.6% of caregivers and 22.8% of adults had received mental health treatment related to FA, with the most common being cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Among the relatively small group who had received treatment, most said they were satisfied with the support they received, though fewer felt their providers had strong knowledge about food allergy:

• 9% of caregivers and 72.4% of adults were at least somewhat satisfied with their treatment experience.
• 1% of caregivers and 75.0% of adults found that mental health providers were at least somewhat helpful at addressing FA concerns.
• 5% of caregivers and 60.06% of adults felt their provider was at least somewhat knowledgeable about food allergy.

Satisfaction also varied from country to country, with caregivers in Portugal and the United Kingdom and adults in Spain, Italy and the United States reporting the highest satisfaction, while caregivers in Brazil and adults in Germany reported the lowest.

What's next

The characterization of food allergy patients and their mental health treatment needs found through this study have allowed researchers and clinicians in the field to act with the necessary baseline knowledge and evidence.

Now, Food Allergy Coping, Empowerment, Tools & Support (FACETS), a first-of-its-kind free online mental health treatment program is actively being developed and will be tested over the next six months with a small number of participants.

"We've been wanting to offer a mental health treatment program for food allergy patients for a long time, and we are excited that we now understand the needs of food allergy patients and caregivers across the world," Dr. Herbert said.

Read the full findings of the study, A Global Survey of Mental Health Treatment Experiences Among Food Allergy Patients and Caregivers, in JACI: In Practice.