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A brief psychological intervention for mothers of children with food allergy can change risk perception and reduce anxiety: Outcomes of a randomized controlled trial
Author(s) -
Boyle R. J.,
Umasunthar T.,
Smith J. G.,
Hanna H.,
Procktor A.,
Phillips K.,
Pinto C.,
Gore C.,
Cox H. E.,
Warner J. O.,
Vickers B.,
Hodes M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/cea.12981
Subject(s) - anxiety , medicine , randomized controlled trial , intervention (counseling) , randomization , psychological intervention , physical therapy , clinical psychology , pediatrics , psychiatry
Summary Background Mothers of children with food allergy have increased anxiety, which may be influenced by healthcare professionals’ communication of risk. Objective To evaluate a brief psychological intervention for reducing anxiety in mothers of children with food allergy. Methods Two hundred mothers of children with food allergy were recruited from allergy clinics. A computer‐generated randomization list was used to allocate participants to a single‐session cognitive behavioural therapy intervention including a risk communication module, or standard care. Anxiety and risk perception were assessed at 6 weeks and 1 year. Primary outcome was state anxiety at 6 weeks. Secondary outcomes included state anxiety at 1 year, risk perception at 6 weeks and 1 year, and salivary cortisol response to a simulated anaphylaxis scenario at 1 year. Results We found no significant difference in the primary outcome state anxiety at 6 weeks, with mean 31.9 (SD 10.2) intervention, 34.0 (10.2) control; mean difference 2.1 (95% CI −0.9, 5.0; P =.17). There was significantly reduced state anxiety at 6 weeks in the intervention group, in the subgroup of participants with moderate/high anxiety at enrolment (103/200, 52%), with mean 33.0 (SD 9.3) intervention, 37.8 (SD 10.0) control; mean difference 4.8 (95% CI 0.9, 8.7; P =.016; Cohen's d effect size 0.50). The psychological intervention also reduced risk perception and salivary cortisol response ( P =.032; effect size 0.36). Conclusion We found evidence that a brief psychological intervention which incorporates accurate risk information may impact on anxiety, risk perception and physiological stress response in mothers of children with food allergy.