Prospective 2-Year Course and Predictors of Outcome in Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the 2-year course and outcomes of full and subthreshold avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) in youth aged 9 to 23 years at baseline using a prospective longitudinal design to characterize the remission and persistence of ARFID, evaluate diagnostic crossover, and identify predictors of outcome. Greater severity in each ARFID profile-sensory sensitivity, fear of aversive consequences, and lack of interest-was hypothesized to predict greater likelihood of illness persistence, controlling for age, sex, body mass index percentile, ARFID treatment status, and baseline diagnosis.

METHOD: Participants (N = 100; age range, 9-23 years; 49% female; 91% White) were followed over 2 years. The Pica, ARFID, and Rumination Disorder Interview was used across 3 time points (baseline, year 1, year 2) to measure the severity of each ARFID profile and evaluate illness persistence or remission, and the Eating Disorder Assessment for DSM-5 was used to evaluate diagnostic crossover.

RESULTS: Across the 2-year follow-up period, half the participants persisted with their original diagnosis, and 3% of participants experienced a diagnostic shift to anorexia nervosa. Greater severity in the sensory sensitivity and lack of interest profiles was associated with higher likelihood of ARFID persistence at year 1 only; greater severity in the fear of aversive consequences profile was associated with higher likelihood of ARFID remission at year 2 only.

CONCLUSION: Findings underscore the distinctiveness of ARFID from other eating disorders and emphasize its persistence over 2 years. Results also highlight the predictive validity and prognostic value of the ARFID profiles (ie, sensory sensitivity, fear of aversive consequences, lack of interest).

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: In this longitudinal study, the authors examined the course and outcomes of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) in a sample of 100 youth aged 9 to 23 years over the course of 2 years. Across the 2-year follow-up period, half the sample persisted with their original diagnosis, and 3% of participants developed anorexia nervosa. Results indicate that profiles of greater sensory sensitivity to food and lack of interest in food/eating were associated with higher likelihood of ARFID persistence at year 1 only, whereas greater severity in the fear of aversive consequences of eating was associated with higher likelihood of ARFID remission at year 2 only. These findings highlight the persistence of ARFID and suggest that outcomes may vary depending on an individual's ARFID presentation.