Family Functioning Among Adolescents With Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to add to the limited literature on family functioning among adolescents with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). METHOD: Participants were receiving treatment for ARFID (n = 89) or anorexia nervosa-restricting subtype (AN-R) (n = 66), matched on age, percentage of expected body weight, and treatment length of stay, at a multisite eating disorder treatment facility. All patients completed the Eating Disorders in Youth-Questionnaire (EDY-Q) (a measure of ARFID symptoms) at admission and discharge. Family functioning was assessed with the Family Assessment Device (FAD). RESULTS: No family functioning scores were significantly different between patients with ARFID and patients with AN-R, and patients reported poor family functioning on nearly all FAD subscales. No family functioning scores were associated with EDY-Q scores at admission or discharge. No changes in family functioning were associated with discharge EDY-Q scores. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that family functioning among adolescents with ARFID is impaired and comparable to those with AN-R.