This study aims to assess the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of a two-session, virtual parent-training exposure protocol for children ages 5-12 who experience picky eating consistent with an Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) diagnosis.
Potential subjects aged 5 to 12 years with picky eating symptoms consistent with an ARFID diagnosis, as determined by the Pica, ARFID, Rumination Disorder Interview, a semi-structured diagnostic interview, will be recruited via social media and local doctor's offices. Eligible subjects will complete informed consent and an intake session. Participants will then be randomized to an immediate treatment group, in which they will begin treatment the following week, or a 4-week waitlist condition, in which they will wait four weeks to begin treatment. All participants will have the opportunity to receive the treatment, ARFID Parent Training Program or "ARFID-PTP." ARFID-PTP was adapted from a seven-session parent-training for extremely picky eating behaviors to examine the efficacy of a two-session, virtual protocol on increasing food intake and decreasing selective eating. The two virtual treatment sessions will include psychoeducation, parent-training skills, and exposure protocol. There will be 5 major assessment time points: intake, end of treatment, 4-weeks post-treatment, 3-months post-treatment, and 6-months post-treatment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
ARFID-PTP is a two-session virtual protocol using psychoeducation, parent training skills, and exposure to decrease picky eating symptoms consistent with an ARFID diagnosis.
University at Albany, State University of New York
Albany, New York, United States
RECRUITINGRecruitment Feasibility
Recruitment rates will be measured by the average number of participants recruited each month.
Time frame: Enrollment
Retention Feasibility
Retention rates will be measured as the percentage of families who begin treatment and complete all follow-up time points.
Time frame: Through study completion, up to 9 months
Acceptability of exposure protocol
Acceptability of exposure will be measured as a percentage of number of daily food exposures the family completes at all follow-up time points.
Time frame: Through study completion, up to 9 months
Credibility of treatment
The Credibility and Expectancy Questionnaire is a 6-item measure of treatment credibility and how much participants think and feel treatment will work.
Time frame: After week 2 of treatment
Acceptability of treatment
Parents will self-report the acceptability of treatment by selecting the extent to which they agree with statements such as "I would refer this treatment to a friend" or "I am satisfied with this treatment."
Time frame: After week 2 of treatment
Acceptability of treatment at 1-month follow-up
Parents will self-report the acceptability of treatment by selecting the extent to which they agree with statements such as "I would refer this treatment to a friend" or "I am satisfied with this treatment."
Time frame: 1 month
Pica, ARFID, Rumination Disorder Interview (PARDI)
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The PARDI is a semi-structured interview assessing for diagnostic criteria of ARFID, as well as subtype classification and severity ratings. Parents will be assessed using the PARDI.
Time frame: Change between intake and 3-month follow-up
Treatment Efficacy: Foods in Regular Rotation
Parents will self-report the number of new foods a child has included in "regular rotation" i.e., is able to eat a full serving size regularly.
Time frame: Through study completion, up to 9 months
Behavioral Pediatric Feeding Assessment Scale
The Behavioral Pediatric Feeding Assessment Scale is a well-validated measure of child's eating behaviors and parental perception of eating behaviors.
Time frame: Through study completion, up to 9 months
Treatment Efficacy: Goal Progress
Treatment goals will be assessed using the ARFID-specific treatment goal checklist established by Bryant-Waugh in 2020 via the Maudsley Centre for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders.
Time frame: Through study completion, up to 9 months