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A Psychiatric Study of Patients with Supposed Food Allergy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Keith J. B. Rix ,
David J. Pearson  and
Stephen J. Bentley
Keith J. B. Rix
Affiliation:
University of Manchester (now Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University of Leeds, William Tweddle Clinical Sciences Building, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF)
David J. Pearson
Affiliation:
University of Manchester
Stephen J. Bentley
Affiliation:
University Hospital of South Manchester (now Consultant Physician, Warrington District General Hospital, Warrington)
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Summary

Twenty-three patients who believed they suffered from food allergy were studied at the time of their presentation to an allergy clinic. The presence of organic food hypersensitivy could not be confirmed in 19 who attributed common neurotic symptoms to allergy; this group was almost identical, in terms of psychiatric symptomatology and general characteristics, with a group of new psychiatric out-patient referrals. There was no evidence of psychiatric disorder or food-related psychological symptoms in four patients with proven food-related atopic symptoms. The study failed to find evidence that psychological symptoms might be the result of organic reactions to foods.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 145 , Issue 2 , August 1984 , pp. 121 - 126
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1984 

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