Mental health and quality-of-life concerns related to the burden of food allergy.
As food allergy increases, more research is devoted to its influence on patient and family mental health and quality of life (QoL). This article discusses the effects on parent and child QoL, as well as distress, while appraising the limitations of knowledge given the methods used. Topics include whether QoL and distress are affected compared with other illnesses, assessment of distress and QoL in parents compared with children, concerns about food allergy-related bullying, and the necessity for evidence-based interventions. Suggestions are offered for how to improve QoL and reduce distress on the way to better coping with food allergy.
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Noga L
NL
Ravid
Division of Behavioral and Developmental Health, Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Psychology, Fordham University, 441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, NY 10458, USA.
Ronen Arnon
RA
Annunziato
Division of Behavioral and Developmental Health, Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Michael A
MA
Ambrose
Division of Behavioral and Developmental Health, Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Kelley
K
Chuang
Division of Behavioral and Developmental Health, Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Chloe
C
Mullarkey
Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, One Gustave L Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Scott H
SH
Sicherer
Division of Behavioral and Developmental Health, Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Eyal
E
Shemesh
Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, One Gustave L Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA. Electronic address: acox@prohealthcare.com.
Amanda L
AL
Cox
Bullying; Distress; Food allergy; Quality of life