The Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Irene Nisi, Sara Matteini, Olga Ines Luppino
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a new diagnosis introduced in DSM-5 in 2013. It is characterised by an insufficient intake of food in volume and/or variety. The difficulty in food intake can be motivated by sensory sensitivity towards certain categories of foods; worrying about the negative consequences of eating (i.e. choking or vomiting); or a lack of interest in food. It is associated with medical, nutritional, and/or psychosocial impairment. Therefore, it requires therapeutic management on a medical and psychological level. This paper analyses the data regarding the prevalence of the disorder, aetiology, clinical characteristics, and comorbidities. It investigates the presence of theoretical models of the functioning of the disorder. It also evaluates the assessment methods and intervention techniques that are currently being validated. To date, new data are emerging that indicate a significant presence of this problem. However, the current data is neither univocal nor sufficient and treatment is still at a preliminary stage. Therefore, it is essential for research to analyse and increase the data, to improve the recognition of this pathology and to structure effective therapies for ARFID.
Keywords
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, ARFID, Eating disorder, Cognitive-behavioural therapy, CBT-AR.
