Need for Psychology Referrals Increasing for Children with Food Allergies

BOSTON (Oct. 24, 2024) – With the rise in incidence of food allergies in children in the past decade, there has been a corresponding increase in the need for professional psychology services due to increased anxiety. A new study being presented at this year’s American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston showed a more than 50% increase in psychology referrals at one center in 2023 compared to yearly referrals from 2018-2022. 

“Our center has devoted significant resources to address the psychosocial support needed by many families who have children with food allergies,” says Andriana La Mantia, MD, lead author of the study. “Our goal in this study was to characterize use of these services for food allergy related anxiety.”

The authors conducted a retrospective chart review of outpatient pediatric psychology referrals  between 2013-23 due to food allergies and related conditions. Data included demographic information, medical history related to food allergy, and number of psychology appointments attended from 2013 to 2023.

250 patients (141 males and 109 females; median age 9.5 years) were included in the study. 88% were referred for food allergy related concerns, with an average of 2.1 allergens per patient. 53% had prior documented anaphylaxis. 69% of patients had food related anxiety and 12% had quality of life impairment prompting referrals. 60% of patients who received psychology referrals completed at least one appointment, with an average of 5.5 follow-up appointments in the subsequent year.

“Food allergy patients, particularly children, often suffer from anxiety related to potential accidental ingestion and anaphylaxis,” says allergist David Stukus, MD, co-author of the paper and ACAAI member. “Expanding psychological services for these patients is an important part of how we try to support families to live normal lives while balancing food allergy management.”

Abstract Title: INCREASING NUMBER OF PSYCHOLOGY REFERRALS FOR FOOD ALLERGY (Full abstract below)

Presenter: Andriana La Mantia, MD 

For more information about food allergies, or to find an allergist in your area, visit AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org. The ACAAI Annual Scientific Meeting is Nov. 9-13. For more news and research from the ACAAI Scientific Meeting, go to our newsroom and follow the conversation on X/Twitter #ACAAI24.

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INCREASING NUMBER OF PSYCHOLOGY REFERRALS FOR FOOD ALLERGY
A. La Mantia*, D. Stukus, A. Hahn, K. Benson, Columbus, OH. 

Introduction: The impact of anxiety on parents and children with food allergy has been increasingly recognized during the past decade. Unfortunately, many locations have limited access to professional services. Our tertiary care referral center has increased psychology services in recent years. Our aim was to characterize use of these services for food allergy related anxiety.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of outpatient pediatric psychology referrals at our center between 2013-23 due to food allergies and related conditions. Data included demographic information, medical history related to food allergy, and number of psychology appointments attended from 2013 to 2023. The IRB determined that this proposed activity was not research involving human subjects.
Results: 250 patients (141 males and 109 females; median age 9.5 years) were included in the study. 88% were referred for food allergy related concerns, with an average of 2.1 allergens per patient. 53% had prior documented anaphylaxis. 69% of patients had food related anxiety and 12% had quality of life impairment prompting referrals. 60% of patients who received psychology referrals completed at least one appointment, with an average of 5.5 follow up appointments in the following one year. From 2013 to 2023, there was an 11-fold increase in food allergy referrals placed, with a single year >50% increase in 2023 compared to yearly referrals from 2018-2022.
Conclusion: The number of pediatric psychology referrals for issues related to food allergy increased dramatically over the past decade. Expansion of these services will be important to meet the needs of our patients. 

Food Allergy Referrals from 2013-2023