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NCT07478510
The goal of this cross - sectional observational study is to improve understanding of the psychological and cognitive characteristics of Feeding and Eating Disorders (FEDs), a group of conditions that represent a growing public health concern due to their significant impact on physical health, emotional well-being, and everyday functioning. Within this broader diagnostic category, particular attention is given to Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), a diagnosis introduced in the DSM-5 and still relatively underexplored compared to other feeding and eating disorders. Despite its clinical relevance, ARFID remains less well understood in terms of its underlying cognitive and psychological mechanisms. Individuals with ARFID often experience severe food avoidance or restriction that is not driven by weight or shape concerns, but rather by sensory sensitivities, fear of negative consequences of eating, or a lack of interest in food. For this reason, investigating ARFID can offer important insights into the diversity of mechanisms involved in feeding and eating disorders as a whole. The study has two main objectives. The first objective is to examine the cognitive profile of individuals with ARFID, with a specific focus on autistic traits and cognitive flexibility, as previous research suggests potential overlaps between ARFID and neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorders. Cognitive flexibility refers to the ability to adapt thoughts and behaviors in response to changing situations, and reduced flexibility may contribute to rigid eating patterns and food avoidance. The second objective is to explore the role of body representation (how individuals perceive and mentally represent their own body) and inhibitory control (the ability to regulate or suppress automatic responses) in shaping the cognitive and behavioral features of ARFID and other feeding and eating disorders. These processes may help distinguish ARFID from other diagnoses and clarify shared and disorder-specific mechanisms across the FED spectrum. The study involves adult participants of all genders, including individuals diagnosed with ARFID, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa, as well as healthy control participants without a history of feeding or eating disorders. This design allows meaningful comparisons between different diagnostic groups and with the general population. The main questions the study aims to answer are: Do individuals with ARFID show a distinct cognitive profile, particularly in terms of autistic traits and cognitive flexibility, compared to individuals with other feeding and eating disorders and healthy controls? How do body representation and inhibitory control contribute to differences in eating-related behaviors across feeding and eating disorders? Are there differences in brain activity associated with implicit, automatic attitudes toward food in individuals with feeding and eating disorders compared to healthy individuals? Where comparison groups are included, researchers will compare participants with ARFID, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and healthy controls to examine differences in cognitive functioning, psychological characteristics, and neural responses related to food processing. Participants will be asked to take part in a series of non-invasive and well-established research activities, designed to be accessible and safe. These include: Completing self-report questionnaires assessing autistic traits, body image perception, and general psychological well-being; Performing computer-based tasks that assess cognitive flexibility and decision-making; Completing behavioral tasks designed to measure inhibitory control and automatic associations with food-related stimuli;
NCT07431671
Pediatric Feeding Disorders (PFDs) are conditions characterized by persistent difficulties in food intake, commonly manifesting as food selectivity, food refusal, and dysfunctional mealtime behaviors. Their prevalence in the general pediatric population ranges from 3% to 10%, with substantially higher rates reported among children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The impact of PFDs extends beyond growth and nutritional status, affecting cognitive and emotional development as well as the well-being of the entire family system. Although several treatment models have been proposed, scientific evidence supporting outpatient interventions remains limited and Italy-specific studies are lacking. Moreover, despite the availability of standardized assessment tools, feeding-related outcomes are not yet systematically addressed within outpatient clinical practice for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The present study aims to evaluate whether an interdisciplinary intervention protocol involving a psychologist, a speech and language therapist (SLP), and a Neuro and Psychomotor Therapist of Developmental Age (TNPEE) can improve food variety and reduce dysfunctional mealtime behaviors in this population. The study is designed as a pilot randomized controlled trial developed across five sequential phases: participant enrollment and screening using the Montreal Children's Hospital Feeding Scale (MCH-FS); baseline standardized assessment (T0) using the Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool (PediEAT) and the Short Sensory Profile (SSP); random allocation of participants to an experimental group or a control group; delivery of the interdisciplinary intervention exclusively to the experimental group; and a final standardized assessment conducted six weeks later (T1) to evaluate changes over time and between groups. This pilot study primarily aims to assess feasibility and to estimate the variability of outcome measures; therefore, no formal sample size or power calculation was performed. The planned enrollment of 12 participants per group was determined based on feasibility considerations and in line with CONSORT recommendations for pilot trials. The proposed protocol seeks to address current gaps in the literature by systematically targeting feeding-related outcomes through an explicitly interdisciplinary approach that integrates psychological, speech and language, and neuropsychomotor perspectives in the management of PFD.
NCT05605067
The goal of this observational study is to rapidly accelerate knowledge about the biology of avoidant and restrictive food intake disorder or ARFID in children ages 7-17 and in adults. The investigators will be evaluating the genetic and environmental origins of ARFID. Participants will be asked to answer questionnaires online and to submit a saliva sample for DNA using a kit that will be mailed to their home.