Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), More Than Just Picky Eating: A Case Discussion and Literature Review

The purpose of this manuscript is to define Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and outline the current treatment modalities and nursing implications while also highlighting the importance of increasing education on this disorder for the general public. A specific case discussion is also included that showcases the daily struggles of a pediatric subject with ARFID that include bullying, self-doubt, and anxiety related to eating. An extensive literature review is included that was performed utilizing various search engines to gather information on the definition of ARFID, its prevalence, and the treatment modalities currently available. ARFID is a type of eating disorder that is characterized by a person having a fear of certain foods in the absence of body image issues. ARFID was added to the DSM-V, the classification system of mental disorders, just seven years ago and is a relatively rare diagnosis. The treatment modalities for ARFID discovered thus far include pharmaceutical methods and various types of therapy for both the patient and their family members. Nursing implications include increasing awareness of this disorder and advocating for proper treatments for patients with ARFID not only in a clinical setting, but also at their homes and in schools. As there is presently not a great deal of literature on ARFID, it is evident that there is a need for increased awareness of the disorder in order to enhance the research on treatment modalities for the disorder and to, most importantly, increase the quality of life for those with the disorder and their family members. Bachelor of Scienc