Derby Study To Help Allergy Families
20 March 2012
Dr Rebecca Knibb
We hope that CBT will give these parents some new ways of dealing with their anxiety and low mood, which in turn will have a positive impact on their quality of life and that of their allergic child.
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Dr Knibb
A University of Derby Psychologist is hoping her new study into coping strategies for parents with children suffering from severe food allergies could lead to serious benefits for a number of Derby families.
Dr Rebecca Knibb, who teaches on the University's BSc (Hons) Psychology degree and Masters in Health Psychology has already carried out research focussing on the psychosocial impact of allergic conditions such as asthma and food allergy, on the lives of children, parents and families.
Rebecca said: "We have seen that serious allergies, such as to peanuts, can seriously impact on the quality of life of those affected, and their families, and psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression may arise as a result.
"Parents of children with severe allergies for example can suffer from anxiety and low mood, as a result of the worry and level of high vigilance they have to maintain as they monitor their child's food intake."
In this research, in partnership with the allergy clinic at Derby Children's Hospital, Rebecca will look at whether the anxiety and low mood of 50 Derby parents can be reduced with a 12 week course of tailored Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
She added: "We hope that CBT will give these parents some new ways of dealing with their anxiety and low mood, which in turn will have a positive impact on their quality of life and that of their allergic child."
"We will take a number of psychological measures at the start of the study and then compare at the end of the 12 week programme of CBT, and again three and six months later to see if the psychological therapy has any long term benefits.
"If CBT has a positive impact on these parents and their families, then we will be able to recommend such psychological therapies and strategies to parents affected."
For more information on the study contact Dr Rebecca Knibb on email r.c.knibb@derby.ac.uk
For more information on studying Psychology at Derby visit website www.derby.ac.uk/psychology
