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Contact the study team using the details below to take part. If there are no contact details below please ask your doctor in the first instance.
Allergy Anxiety
This information is provided directly by researchers, and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information. In some summaries, you may come across links to external websites. These websites will have more information to help you better understand the study.
People with severe allergy often experience distress but research exploring psychological interventions for them is limited. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is routinely used in NHS services. The research investigators would like to know whether a short term CBT group is feasible and acceptable for those with severe allergy who are also experiencing distress and/or anxiety.
The research investigators will recruit people with allergy through support groups and social media. Those interested in the study will be invited to complete a screening interview. If the participants meet the inclusion criteria and consent to take part the participants will be randomly allocated into the CBT or a self-help group. Full written consent will be needed at the telephone screening session if participants are eligible for the study. Participants will be given time to complete this prior to the intervention. Participants will be able to withdraw at any point during the study.
The self-help group will be sent self-help materials. The CBT group will attend a single session day workshop based on CBT (maximum 6 hours length). Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the workshop may need to be delivered online. If delivered online, the workshop may be delivered over two three hour sessions.
Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires at baseline, the day of the intervention, one month later and three months later. They will be asked to complete a feedback form about their experiences in the group and at three month follow up, a small subsample of participants will be invited to interview.
Once the data is analysed it will be written up into a report for a clinical psychology doctoral qualification major research project. It may also be published in academic journals and presented at conferences. A possible outcome of the research is that people with allergy either do or do not find the workshops an acceptable and/or feasible intervention. It will identify the potential for this intervention to reduce distress and anxiety and to improve coping skills in adults with allergy. Those who take part are welcome to contact the researchers to find out the results of the study.
Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.
The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:
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You can take part if:
You may not be able to take part if:
This is in the inclusion criteria above
Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.
The study is sponsored by University of Surrey
Your feedback is important to us. It will help us improve the quality of the study information on this site. Please answer both questions.
You can print or share the study information with your GP/healthcare provider or contact the research team directly.
