Exploring the cooccurrence of behavioural phenotypes for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder in a partial hospitalization sample

Objective: Literature providing clinical characterizations of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) has proposed the occurrence of three functions for food refusal: fear of negative consequences, lack of hunger, or sensory sensitivity. Recent studies have suggested that these functions may be used to subtype patients presenting with ARFID; however, other work suggests that these categories are not mutually exclusive and instead represent neurobiological dimensions that can cooccur. The current study explored the potential cooccurrence of behavioural phenotypes in patients with ARFID presenting to a partial hospitalization program.

Method: Two raters conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with ARFID presenting to treatment from June 2014 to May 2018 (N = 59).

Results: Regarding cooccurrence of symptoms consistent with behavioural phenotypes, raters showed excellent agreement, and over 50% of the sample endorsed symptoms consistent with more than one phenotype. The sensory sensitivity phenotype was most common in the sample and frequently cooccurred with both other phenotypes.

Discussion: Results suggest that multiple functions for food avoidance may be present within one individual. Future work should aim to further characterize individuals presenting with singular versus multiple phenotype characteristics.