Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), previously known as “selective eating disorder,” is characterized by highly selective eating habits, disturbed feeding patterns, or both. It often results in significant nutrition and energy deficiencies, and for children, failure to gain weight.
A diagnosis of avoidant restrictive food intake disorder is given when a person has one or more of the following symptoms:
ARFID is similar to anorexia in that both disorders involve limitations in the amount and/or types of food consumed, but unlike anorexia, ARFID does not involve any distress about body shape or size, or fears of fatness.The disorder is not better explained by lack of available food or by an associated culturally sanctioned practice. A diagnosis of ARFID also requires that the eating problem is not attributable to a concurrent medical condition or other mental disorder.
Pica is a compulsive eating disorder in which people eat non-food items, such as dirt, hair, and paint chips. A diagnosis of pica disorder is based on:
Rumination disorder involves the regular regurgitation of food that may be re-chewed, re-swallowed, or spit out. A diagnosis of rumination disorder is based on:
Mental Health Library Sources:
Information included in all topics of the Mental Health Library comes from the Desk Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria From DSM-5 and Kaplan & Sadock’s Concise Textbook of Clinical Psychiatry. Complete diagnostic and treatment information may be found within these publications.
Disclaimer:
Information within the Mental Health Library is not intended to be used for self-diagnosis purposes. Rather, it is provided as a public educational service to make people aware of mental health conditions. Please consult a qualified mental health professional for a diagnosis of any suspected mental health illness.
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