Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adults with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Eating Disorders

Background:

• Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) lacks evidence-based treatments for adults.
• Existing treatments for ARFID primarily focus on pediatric populations.
• There is a critical need for effective interventions for adult ARFID.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of cognitive-behavioral therapy for ARFID (CBT-AR) in adults.
• To establish a proof-of-concept for CBT-AR as a viable treatment for adult ARFID.
• To assess preliminary treatment outcomes for CBT-AR in a diverse adult ARFID sample.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, open-label study involving 15 adult participants (ages 18-55) with ARFID.
• Participants received 20-30 outpatient sessions of CBT-AR.
• Treatment outcomes were assessed using standardized interviews (PARDI), patient-reported satisfaction, and clinical global impression scales.

Main Results:

• High treatment credibility (all patients) and satisfaction (93% of completers) were reported.
• Significant reductions in ARFID severity (intent-to-treat analysis) were observed.
• Participants incorporated a mean of 18.0 new foods, and 47% no longer met ARFID criteria post-treatment.
• The underweight subgroup (n=4) showed significant BMI increase, moving from underweight to normal-weight range.

Conclusions:

• CBT-AR is a feasible and acceptable treatment for adults with ARFID.
• Preliminary findings suggest CBT-AR is effective in reducing ARFID symptoms, increasing dietary range, and improving nutritional status.
• Further investigation via randomized controlled trials is warranted to confirm these promising results.