Family-Based Treatment for a Preadolescent With Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder With Sensory Sensitivity: A Case Report.

Background: Individuals with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) experience eating problems that cause persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and/or energy needs. These eating problems are not driven by body image concerns but rather by persistent low appetite, sensory sensitivity, or fear of aversive consequences of eating (e.g.

Applying family-based treatment (FBT) to three clinical presentations of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: Similarities and differences from FBT for anorexia nervosa.

Objective: This article uses three brief case reports to illustrate how family-based treatment (FBT) can be used to treat pre-adolescents with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).

Method: We present case material illustrating how FBT can be used in three different clinical presentations of ARFID: (1) low appetite and lack of interest; (2) sensory sensitive eaters; and (3) fear of aversive consequences eaters-all without shape or weight concerns.

Results: This case material illustrates that the main principles of FBT-agnosticism as to the cause of the illness, externalization, emphasizing the seriousness of ARFID, parental empowerment, behavioral consultation, and practical behavioral focus-are applicable for a range of ARFID clinical presentations.