Dataset Information

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: Feasibility, acceptability, and proof-of-concept for children and adolescents.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Little is known about the optimal treatment of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). The purpose of this study was to evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and proof-of-concept for cognitive-behavioral therapy for ARFID (CBT-AR) in children and adolescents.

Method

Males and females (ages 10-17 years) were offered 20-30 sessions of CBT-AR delivered in a family-based or individual format.

Results

Of 25 eligible individuals, 20 initiated treatment, including 17 completers and 3 dropouts. Using intent-to-treat analyses, clinicians rated 17 patients (85%) as "much improved" or "very much improved." ARFID severity scores (on the Pica, ARFID, and Rumination Disorder Interview) significantly decreased per both patient and parent report. Patients incorporated a mean of 16.7 (SD = 12.1) new foods from pre- to post-treatment. The underweight subgroup showed a significant weight gain of 11.5 (SD = 6.0) pounds, moving from the 10th to the 20th percentile for body mass index. At post-treatment, 70% of patients no longer met criteria for ARFID.

Discussion

This is the first study of an outpatient manualized psychosocial treatment for ARFID in older adolescents. Findings provide evidence of feasibility, acceptability, and proof-of-concept for CBT-AR. Randomized controlled trials are needed.

SUBMITTER: Thomas JJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7719612 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: Feasibility, acceptability, and proof-of-concept for children and adolescents.

Thomas Jennifer J JJ Becker Kendra R KR Kuhnle Megan C MC Jo Jenny H JH Harshman Stephanie G SG Wons Olivia B OB Keshishian Ani C AC Hauser Kristine K Breithaupt Lauren L Liebman Rachel E RE Misra Madhusmita M Wilhelm Sabine S Lawson Elizabeth A EA Eddy Kamryn T KT

The International journal of eating disorders 20200809 10

<h4>Objective</h4>Little is known about the optimal treatment of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). The purpose of this study was to evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and proof-of-concept for cognitive-behavioral therapy for ARFID (CBT-AR) in children and adolescents.<h4>Method</h4>Males and females (ages 10-17 years) were offered 20-30 sessions of CBT-AR delivered in a family-based or individual format.<h4>Results</h4>Of 25 eligible individuals, 20 initiated treatment, includ ...[more]

PMID: 32776570

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Project description:BackgroundAvoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) symptoms are common (up to 40%) among adults with disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), but treatments for this population (DGBI + ARFID) have yet to be evaluated. We aimed to identify initial feasibility, acceptability, and clinical effects of an exposure-based cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) for adults with DGBI + ARFID.MethodsPatients (N = 14) received CBT as part of routine care in an outpatient gastroenterology clinic. A two-part investigation of the CBT included a retrospective evaluation of patients who were offered a flexible (8-10) session length and an observational prospective study of patients who were offered eight sessions. Feasibility benchmarks were ≥75% completion of sessions, quantitative measures (for treatment completers), and qualitative interviews. Acceptability was assessed with a benchmark of ≥70% patients reporting a posttreatment satisfaction scores ≥3 on 1-4 scale and with posttreatment qualitative interviews. Mixed model analysis explored signals of improvement in clinical outcomes.ResultsAll feasibility and acceptability benchmarks were achieved (and qualitative feedback revealed high satisfaction with the treatment and outcomes). There were improvements in clinical outcomes across treatment (all p's < .0001) with large effects for ARFID fear (-52%; Hedge's g = 1.5; 95% CI = 0.6, 2.5) and gastrointestinal-specific anxiety (-42%; Hedge's g = 1.0; 95% CI = 0.5, 16). Among those who needed to gain weight (n = 10), 94%-103% of expected weight gain goals were achieved.DiscussionInitial development and testing of a brief 8-session CBT protocol for DGBI + ARFID showed high feasibility, acceptability, and promising clinical improvements. Findings will inform an NIH Stage 1B randomized control trial.Public significanceWhile cognitive-behavioral treatments (CBTs) for ARFID have been created in outpatient feeding and eating disorder clinics, they have yet to be developed and refined for other clinic settings or populations. In line with the recommendations for behavioral treatment development, we conducted a two-part investigation of an exposure-based CBT for a patient population with high rates of ARFID-adults with disorders of gut-brain interaction (also known as functional gastrointestinal disorders). We found patients had high satisfaction with treatment and there were promising improvements for both gastrointestinal and ARFID outcomes. The refined treatment includes eight sessions delivered by a behavioral health care provider and the findings reported in this article will be studied next in an NIH Stage 1B randomized controlled trial.

Project description:ImportanceThe neurobiology of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is poorly understood.ObjectiveTo evaluate whether individuals with ARFID exhibit disruptions in fear, appetite, and disgust brain regions compared with healthy control (HC) participants when shown images of food and objects.Design, setting, and participantsIn this case-control study conducted from July 2016 to January 2021, children, adolescents, and young adults completed structured interviews and a validated functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) food cue paradigm. The study was conducted at a single academic medical center. Data analysis was conducted from April 2023 to August 2024.ExposuresPresence vs absence of ARFID and its phenotypes (ARFID-fear, ARFID-lack of interest in eating, ARFID-sensory sensitivity); pictures of food vs objects during fMRI food cue paradigm.Main outcomes and measuresBlood oxygenation level-dependent activation in regions of interest (ROIs; amygdala, hypothalamus, insula, anterior cingulate cortex [ACC]) and the whole brain.ResultsParticipants were 110 children, adolescents, and young adults with full or subthreshold ARFID (75 participants; mean [SD] age, 16.2 [3.8] years; 41 [55%] female) and age-matched HC participants (35 participants; mean [SD] age, 17.3 [4.0] years; 27 [69%] female) recruited for studies of the neurobiology of ARFID and restrictive eating disorders. Participants with ARFID demonstrated greater activation than HC participants of the ACC (mean difference, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.19 to 0.77]; P = .009), sensory association cortex (mean difference on left side, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.29 to 0.79]; P = .005; right side, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.28 to 0.76]; P = .02), and supplementary motor cortex (mean difference, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.47 to 1.15]; P = .04). The ARFID-fear group showed greater amygdala activation vs HC (mean difference, 0.49 [95% CI, 0.16 to 0.82]; P = .04), and greater lack of interest was associated with lower hypothalamus activation in the ARFID-lack of interest group (r = -0.38 [95% CI, -0.69 to -0.11]; P = .03). The ARFID-sensory sensitivity group did not show greater insula activation vs HC but showed greater activation of the ACC (mean difference, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.22 to 0.74]; P = .005) and somatosensory cortex (mean difference on left side, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.33-0.87]; P = .001; right side, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.29 to 0.80]; P = .03).Conclusions and relevanceResults indicate generalized hyperactivation of ACC, sensory association cortex, and supplementary motor cortex in response to visual food stimuli in children, adolescents, and young adults with ARFID, suggesting a novel neurobiological circuit associated with this disorder. Activation appears consistent with ARFID phenotypic rationales for food avoidance, with hyperactivation of fear regions in ARFID-fear and hypoactivation of appetite regions with increasing ARFID-lack of interest severity.

Project description:ObjectiveThis study explored the preliminary effectiveness of a partial hospitalization program (PHP) for children/adolescents with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). We evaluated how ARFID symptoms changed from admission to discharge, and collected follow-up data on symptoms and outpatient care following PHP discharge.MethodTwenty-two children/adolescents with ARFID (77.3% White, 63.6% female) completed measures assessing ARFID symptomatology at admission and discharge from a PHP for eating disorders. Six months and twelve months following their discharge, participants were contacted to complete study measures again and take part in an interview assessing follow-up care.ResultsPaired samples t tests indicated that participants demonstrated increases in weight and decreases in ARFID symptomatology from admission to discharge with medium to large effects. All participants reported receiving some form of outpatient treatment following discharge, with the type of outpatient services varying across participants. Data from the 86% of participants who completed the six-month follow-up and 50% who completed the twelve-month follow-up suggest that participants generally maintained treatment gains following PHP discharge.DiscussionParticipants experienced symptom improvements from admission to discharge and appeared to maintain these gains after discharge. These results provide preliminary evidence that PHPs are an effective treatment option for children and adolescents with ARFID.Public significance statementThis study provides preliminary evidence that intensive, evidence-based PHPs are effective in treating ARFID. Our findings suggest that children and adolescents with ARFID who receive flexible, cognitive-behavioral, family-centered treatment in a PHP for EDs experience improvements in weight and ARFID symptomatology from admission to discharge. Despite receiving variable and nonstandardized outpatient treatment, individuals with ARFID appear to maintain treatment gains 6 and 12 months after discharge in a PHP.

Dataset Information

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: Feasibility, acceptability, and proof-of-concept for children and adolescents.

Objective

Method

Results

Discussion

Publications

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: Feasibility, acceptability, and proof-of-concept for children and adolescents.

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