A global survey of food allergy-related mental health treatment experiences
Published online May 14, 2025
Many patients with food allergies and caregivers across the world report psychological distress related to food allergy management and that they want psychological support. However, it can be challenging to find and access mental health professionals who have food allergy expertise. The Global Access to Psychological Services for Food Allergy Study was created to 1) assess the psychological experiences and needs of adult and pediatric patients with food allergy and their caregivers and then 2) create a free online mental health treatment program that meets these needs.
In a recent issue of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, Herbert et al. reported on the results of a global survey of the mental health treatment experiences of adult food allergy patients and caregivers of children with food allergy. The survey was available in multiple languages and distributed through patient organizations, social media advertisements, ongoing food allergy studies, and online panels in over 20 countries. The first survey question asked if the participant had ever looked for mental health treatment for food allergy-related concerns. Participants who said they had done so then completed questions about their experiences. Questions included how they identified a mental health professional, what kind of mental health professional they worked with, what kind of treatment they received, and how long they were in treatment. They also answered questions about how knowledgeable they thought the mental health professional was about food allergy, how helpful they found the treatment, and how satisfied they were with treatment.
The final sample of participants included 1907 caregivers and 1329 adults with food allergy. Most of the participants lived in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, or the United States. Almost a quarter of the caregivers (21.6%) and adults (22.8%) in this sample reported that they had received mental health treatment related to food allergy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy was the most common type of treatment. Most caregivers (75.9%) and adults (72.4%) were at least somewhat satisfied with their treatment. Similarly, most caregivers (72.1%) and adults (75.0%) reported mental health treatment was at least somewhat helpful. A slightly smaller percentage of caregivers (62.5%) and adults (60.06%) thought their mental health provider was at least somewhat knowledgeable about food allergy. There were differences between countries in how participants perceived their mental health treatment experiences. The highest percentages of “very” or “somewhat satisfied” participants were from Portugal and the United Kingdom for caregivers and Spain, Italy, and the United States for adults. The lowest percentage of “very” or “somewhat satisfied” participants were from Brazil for caregivers and Germany for adults. The highest percentage of “very” or “somewhat knowledge” providers as rated by participants were from Portugal for both caregivers and adults. The lowest percentage of “very” or “somewhat knowledge” providers as rated by participants were from Australia for caregivers and the United Kingdom for adults. Most caregivers and adults reported satisfaction with food allergy-related mental health treatment and believed providers were somewhat knowledgeable about food allergy. However, inter-country attitudes about food allergy-related mental health treatment experiences were noted. The results of this survey will be used to guide the development of a free online mental health treatment program for food allergy patients and caregivers.
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice is an official journal of the AAAAI, focusing on practical information for the practicing clinician.
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