May is mental health month, and so this issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology focuses on the impact of allergic disease on mental health. Have you thought about how having diseases that can cause chronic itching, coughing, scratching and disfiguring skin conditions might impact the mental health of your patients? An intriguing editorial by Dr. Timothy M. Buckey and Dr. Jonathan M. Spergel outlines the many ways in which allergic diseases can lead to mental health concerns. Indeed, the articles in this month’s issue are designed to help you navigate these concerns and provide guidance on dealing with the psychological implications of allergic disease.
The CME article this month explores how atopic dermatitis is associated with depression and anxiety and what you can do to help your patients cope with this chronic condition. Another review examines the effect of asthma on behavioral outcomes in children and how you can help families manage these concerns. The final review this month explores how proximity challenges can greatly reduce anxiety and fear in food allergic patients (and their families).
Have you ever wondered what a psychotherapy session with a mast cell might look like? This month’s Marginal Zone demonstrates how proximal challenges are important not just for our patients, but also for mast cells in therapy.
Also, this month features a Master Clinician article outlining the immunization schedule for adults with asthma. This is an article you will want to download, print, and place in your clinic to remind you of which vaccines are important in patients with asthma. (I never want to encourage ripping the print journal apart, but you could do that if you must). Original research articles this month explore the exacerbation burden of asthma, the role of small airway dysfunction in the relationship between FeNO and asthma control, the use of mannitol provocation in suspected inducible laryngeal obstruction, on demand treatment of hereditary angioedema, and a health economics analysis of noninjectable versus injectable epinephrine, amongst others.
Our “Letters” section is focused on drug allergy topics, with a study of drug-induced enterocolitis syndrome and another on the variation and outcomes in penicillin allergy management in pregnant patients.
This month, the “10 ways to improve” series debuts. These articles consist of 10 short bullet points about a specific clinical topic written by the relevant ACAAI committee. These are designed to be useful at the point of care. The first of these articles is from the Food Allergy Committee and provides 10 points to improve your management of food allergy. I hope that you find this new series useful and impactful for providing your patients with the best possible care.
As always, the goal of Annals is to always provide the most up-to-date information so that you can provide the best possible care to your patients. As we ask every month, if you have any comments, please email Annals (annals@ACAAI.org) with any comments (good or bad) about articles and the utility of the journal.
Mitchell H. Grayson, MD, FACAAI
Editor-in-Chief
