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Food Allergy in Patients Seeking Mental Health Care: What the Practicing Psychiatrist Should Know

  • Complex Medical-Psychiatric Issues (MB Riba, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Psychiatry Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review provides an overview of food allergy among children and adolescents in the context of its impact on psychosocial functioning, and quality of life (QoL).

Recent Findings

The prevalence of food allergy is increasing. The burden of day to day management of food allergy is significant and can have a negative impact on QoL for both parents of those with food allergy, and the children themselves. This can impact social functioning, academic functioning, and mental health. Children with food allergy experience more bullying than peers. Greater internalizing of symptoms has been identified in adolescents with food allergy. Typical developmental considerations in the transition from adolescence to adulthood can be impacted significantly.

Summary

Those caring for children with food allergy should consider the impact of food allergy on the individual and family level within the context of social and emotional development.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank David Baron for reviewing the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Rachel Upjohn Building, 4250 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2700, USA

    Joanna Quigley

  2. Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Michigan, 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, Lobby H2100, PO Box 442, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106, USA

    Georgiana M. Sanders

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, Lobby H2100, PO Box 442, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106, USA

    Georgiana M. Sanders

  4. Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, Lobby H2100, PO Box 442, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106, USA

    Georgiana M. Sanders

  5. MH Weiser Food Allergy Research Center, University of Michigan, 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, Lobby H2100, PO Box 442, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106, USA

    Georgiana M. Sanders

Authors
  1. Joanna Quigley
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  2. Georgiana M. Sanders
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joanna Quigley.

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Conflict of Interest

Joanna Quigley declares no potential conflicts of interest.

Georgiana M. Sanders reports grants from FARE and Aimmune.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Resources

FARE: Food Allergy Research and Education, foodallergy.org

National Institute of Allergy and Immunology: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy in the United States, Summary for Patients, Families, and Caregivers, https://www.niaid.nih.gov/sites/default/files/faguidelinespatient.pdf

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Complex Medical-Psychiatric Issues

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Quigley, J., Sanders, G.M. Food Allergy in Patients Seeking Mental Health Care: What the Practicing Psychiatrist Should Know. Curr Psychiatry Rep 19, 99 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-017-0849-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-017-0849-8

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