Assessment and Treatment of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Abstract

Purpose of review: To review the literature pertaining to the assessment and treatment of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) ten years following its introduction to DSM-5.

Recent findings: Several structured clinical interviews for assessing ARFID have been developed, each with its own strengths and limitations. There is no clear leading self-report measure for tracking treatment progress and outcome in ARFID. Medical assessment is comprised of examining anthropometrics, vitamin deficiencies, and other comorbidities. To date, several studies have reported on cognitive behavioral therapy, family-based treatment, and other approaches to the treatment of ARFID. These treatments appear promising; however, they rely on data from clinical case series and very small randomized controlled trials. Several promising assessments and treatments for ARFID are in the early stages of research. Yet, controversies remain. These include (a) overlap with criteria for pediatric feeding disorder; (b) the optimal method for assessing nutrient deficiencies; (c) disciplines involved in treatment. Future research innovation is necessary to improve the psychometric properties of ARFID assessments and evaluate treatment efficacy with larger samples and randomized designs.

Keywords: ARFID; Assessment; Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder; CBT-AR; Cognitive behavioral therapy for ARFID; FBT-ARFID; Family-based treatment for ARFID; Fear of aversive consequences; Nutritional deficiencies; Pediatric feeding disorder; Psychosocial impairment; Sensory sensitivity; Treatment.