Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2025
A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity
Published on: August 21, 2015
Brief cognitive-behavioral treatment for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder in the context of functional
Helen Burton Murray1, Brjánn Ljótsson2, Brian Healy3
1Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Multidisciplinary Eating Disorders Research Collaborative, Mass General Brigham, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Background:
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) symptoms are common (up to 40%) among adults with functional dyspepsia (FD), a disorder of gut-brain interaction characterized by early satiation, post-prandial fullness, epigastric pain, and/or epigastric burning. Using an 8-session exposure-based cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) for adults with FD + ARFID compared to usual care (UC) alone, we aim to: (1) determine feasibility, (2) evaluate change in clinical outcomes in, and (3) explore possible mechanisms of action.
Methods:
We will randomize adults with FD who meet criteria for ARFID with ≥5% weight loss (N = 50) in a 1:1 ratio to CBT (with continued UC) or to UC alone. A priori primary benchmarks will be: ≥75% eligible participants enroll; ≥75% participants complete assessments; ≥70% participants attend 6/8 sessions; ≥70% of sessions have all content delivered; ≥70% participants rate Client Satisfaction Questionnaire scores above scale midpoint. We will also examine the size of changes in FD symptom severity and related quality of life within and between groups, and explore possible mechanisms of action.
Conclusions:
Findings from this trial will inform next steps with treatment development or evaluation-either for further refinement or for next-step efficacy testing with a fully-powered clinical trial.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
01:23Binge Eating Disorders
01:22Behavior Therapy
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
01:29Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease II: Clinical Features and Management
Clinical Manifestations
GERD presents itself in a multitude of ways, with symptoms varying from person to person. The hallmark symptoms are...
01:20Taste Buds and Receptors
01:17Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS
Two specific drugs used in the treatment are alosetron (Lotronex) and eluxadoline (Viberzi). Alosetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist, works by slowing the movement of stools in the gut, reducing bowel...