Family-Based Treatment + Unified Protocol for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: An Exploratory Feasibility...

This study explored the flexible use of family-based treatment (FBT) and the unified protocol for the transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders in adolescents (FBT + UP-A) to address the diverse needs of those with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).

Adolescents (n = 13, age range 13-18 years) diagnosed with ARFID were sequentially recruited from a publicly funded eating disorder program and were offered 9 months of outpatient treatment. After achieving initial weight gain using FBT, adolescents were given the option to receive the UP-A to work on self-identified treatment goals.

The study enrolled 100% of eligible participants and all completed treatment. All participants received the minimum required dose of FBT and most chose to engage in UP-A (84.62%). Completion of research measures was inconsistent across participants and those choosing FBT-only were lost to research follow-up. Exploratory analysis of treatment response pre-to post-treatment demonstrated moderate to large treatment effect sizes in terms of weight, ARFID symptoms, and depression, but only small effect sizes for anxiety.

The current study explored the sequential use of an eating disorder and a transdiagnostic emotional disorder intervention for the treatment of ARFID and co-occurring emotional concerns identified by adolescents. These findings suggest that FBT + UP-A has the potential to treat ARFID and depression but requires further testing in a larger controlled study.