Evaluating a Treatment Package for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder to Increase Food Variety

Area of Science:

• Behavior analysis
• Clinical psychology
• Pediatric feeding disorders

Background:

• Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a DSM-5 diagnosis with limited published behavior-analytic research.
• Children with ARFID often exhibit significant food selectivity, impacting nutrition and family dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of behavior-analytic assessment and treatment for ARFID in a typically developing child.
• To investigate the impact of preference assessments and a treatment package on food variety and consumption.

Main Methods:

• Utilized periodic food preference assessments to guide treatment planning.
• Implemented a treatment package including demand fading, escape prevention, and self-monitoring.
• Assessed changes in food consumption, variety, and generalization of treatment effects.

Main Results:

• Target food consumption increased during the intervention period.
• While consumption rose, significant shifts in food preferences were not observed immediately post-assessment.
• Food variety continued to increase over time with sustained treatment, generalizing to family meals and other environments.

Conclusions:

• Behavior-analytic interventions are effective for increasing food variety in children with ARFID.
• Preference assessments can guide treatment, but direct intervention is key for expanding food repertoire.
• Treatment effects demonstrated generalization, highlighting the practical applicability of the approach.