Question 1

What is Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder?

Accepted Answer

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is characterized by an eating or feeding disturbance leading to persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and/or energy needs, associated with one or more of: significant weight loss or faltering growth, significant nutritional deficiency, dependence on enteral feeding or oral nutritional supplements, and marked interference with psychosocial functioning. Unlike anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, ARFID is not driven by body weight/shape concerns.

Question 2

How is Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

A. Eating/feeding disturbance (e.g., apparent lack of interest in eating/food; avoidance based on sensory characteristics; concern about aversive consequences of eating) leading to persistent failure to meet nutritional/energy needs associated with ≥1 of: 1) significant weight loss or faltering growth; 2) significant nutritional deficiency; 3) dependence on enteral feeding or oral supplements; 4) marked psychosocial interference. B. Not better explained by lack of available food or culturally sanctioned practice. C. Not occurring exclusively during anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa and no disturbance in body weight/shape perception. D. Not attributable to a concurrent medical condition or better explained by another mental disorder; if present, the severity of eating disturbance exceeds that routinely associated with the condition.

Question 3

What treatments are available for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder?

Accepted Answer

Treatment for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder typically includes medications, psychotherapy.

Question 4

Can Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder be cured?

Accepted Answer

Variable course. Many improve with exposure-based therapies and multidisciplinary care; chronicity risk increases with longstanding sensory aversions, severe anxiety, or medical comorbidities. Early intervention reduces growth and psychosocial impact.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Overview

Description

Prevalence

Age of Onset

DSM-5 Code

ICD-10 Code

Diagnostic Criteria

Symptoms

Prognosis

Evaluation

Specifiers

Neurobiology

Risk Factors

Comorbidities

Warning Signs

Impact On Life

Severity Levels

Treatment Goals

Prognosis Factors

When To Seek Help

Real Life Examples

Developmental Stages

Self Help Strategies

Treatment Approaches

Overdiagnosis Factors

Missed Diagnosis Factors

Seeking Help for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder?