Background. Food allergy (FA) is associated with poor quality of life and high levels of psychological distress. Psychological support is therefore extremely important but is not always available. As part of the Global Access to Psychological Services for Food Allergy (GAPS) Study, we aimed to assess distress and use of psychological services for adults with food allergy. Methods. Participants (n=1329 adults with FA) from >20 countries were recruited through patient organisations, social media adverts and online survey panels to complete an online survey. Surveys were offered in six languages. Results. A total of 67.7% of adults reported they had experienced FA-related psychological distress with the biggest issue being anxiety about having an allergic reaction (64.1%). Only 19.4% had been assessed for FA-related psychological distress; 22.9% had seen a mental health professional for treatment for their FA-related distress. There were significant differences across countries for levels of distress, screening for distress, seeing a mental health professional and being diagnosed with a FA-related mental health disorder (all p<0.001). The UK and Brazil had the highest number of adults reporting distress. The biggest barriers to seeing a mental health professional were cost, lack of insurance coverage, failure to provide a referral, and lack of practitioner in the area. Conclusions. FA-related distress is common in adults. Few have accessed the psychological care and support they need and there is significant variability across countries. Clinicians should consider routine assessment of adults for distress and easily accessible resources are needed to help support adult patients.

A document by Natasha Correa. Click on the document to view its contents.

1 Conflicts of interestESC has received research support from DBV Technologies; has been a member of advisory boards for Pfizer, Pediapharm, Leo Pharma, Kaleo, DBV, AllerGenis, Sanofi Genzyme, Bausch Health, Avir Pharma; is a member of the healthcare advisory board for Food Allergy Canada; was an expert panel and coordinating committee member of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)-sponsored Guidelines for Peanut Allergy Prevention; and was co-lead of the CSACI oral immunotherapy guidelines.SJ has been on speaker’s bureaus for Aralez, Novartis, Astra Zeneca, and Sanofi, and on the advisory board for Sanofi.MH has provided speaker services for Pfizer, Pediapharm, and has been part of an advisory board for ALK and provides privately funded OIT.VC has been a participant on advisory boards for Sanofi Genzyme, Bausch Health, and ALK, speaker services for Aralez Pharmaceuticals and CSL Behring.DM has provided consultation and speaker services for Pfizer, Aimmune, Kaleo, Merck, Covis and Pediapharm, and has been part of an advisory board for Pfizer and Bausch Health. He sits on the editorial board for the Journal of Food Allergy.EA Section Head of Anaphylaxis/Food Allergy for the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology; sits on steering committee for Canada’s National Food Allergy Action Plan; moderator/speaker fees from Novartis, GSK, Sanofi, AstraZeneca.LS NoneTW speaking engagements for Pfizer and Stallergenes Greer, Advisory Board member for ALK and Leo PharmaJP is the Section Head of Allied Health for the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology; and sits on the steering committee for Canada’s National Food Allergy Action Plan

A document by Hailey Hildebrand. Click on the document to view its contents.

A document by Kaitlyn Merrill. Click on the document to view its contents.