Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: a follow-up study on infantile anorexia and maternal eating attitudes from infancy to preadolescence

LUCARELLI, LOREDANA;SECHI, CRISTINA;Chatoor, Irene

2015-01-01

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Abstract

AVOIDANT/RESTRICTIVE FOOD INTAKE DISORDER: A FOLLOW-UP STUDY ON INFANTILE ANOREXIA AND MATERNAL EATING ATTITUDES FROM INFANCY TO PREADOLESCENCE. Loredana Lucarelli1, Cristina Sechi1, Irene Chatoor2 1University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy/2The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States Introduction: DC:0-3R identifies Infantile Anorexia (IA) by the child’s food refusal, lack of interest in eating and food, and growth deficiency. DSM-5 Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) recognized IA under Apparent lack of interest in eating or food subtype. ARFID replaced Feeding Disorders of Infancy or Early Childhood in DSM-IV, expanding the diagnosis into adolescence and adulthood. Methods: 58 boys, 55 girls, diagnosed with IA and ARFID subtype, and their mothers were followed-up at 5, 8, and 11 years of age, having minimal interventions. Consequently, this study presents more of the natural course of IA. Participants underwent: 1) evaluation of the child’s eating patterns and growth 2) assessment of the child’s emotional functioning and mother’s psychological profile and eating attitudes through CBCL, SCL90R, and EAT40. Results: The nutritional status improved for the majority of children over time, but they showed ongoing dysfunctional eating patterns and internalizing/externalizing problems compared to the controls. Their mothers continued to show somatization, depression, dysfunctional eating attitudes, revealing an association between mothers’ psychopathology and continuing problems in their children. Moreover, at 11 years of age, an effect of the child’s gender on maternal Hostility and Dieting emerged, the girls’ mothers showing significantly higher scores than the boys’ mothers. Conclusions: Results show the importance of targeted interventions. Presentation Type Oral Presentation Category Developmental