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Updated: May 26, 2026
04:23
A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity
Published on: August 21, 2015
Psychological Treatment for Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Colleen T Lukens1, Robert M Dempster2, Kamryn T Eddy3
1Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
The International Journal of Eating Disorders
|May 25, 2026
Summary
A consensus statement highlights exposure therapy as a core psychological treatment for pediatric feeding disorder (PFD) and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), focusing on increasing food intake.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Pediatrics
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Pediatric feeding disorder (PFD) and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) share psychological mechanisms but are treated separately.
- Learned food avoidance is a key symptom in both PFD and ARFID.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a consensus statement on psychological interventions for PFD and ARFID.
- To bridge the gap between PFD and ARFID treatment and research.
Main Methods:
- Convened a group of experts to clarify psychological interventions.
- Summarized conclusions from a consensus meeting on learned food avoidance.
Main Results:
- A common core approach involves exposure to food and feeding experiences.
- The goal is to increase the volume and variety of food and fluid consumed.
- Differences in treatment delivery are based on patient factors, not diagnostic distinctions.
Conclusions:
- Exposure-based treatment is a unified approach for PFD and ARFID.
- Multidisciplinary assessment, treatment readiness, and systemic factors are crucial for effective delivery.
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