How is avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder different from anorexia nervosa? A scoping review

• Autor(a) principal: Sara Bettencourt Saraiva Alves Ramos
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://hdl.handle.net/10216/142000
• topic: Medicina clínica; Clinical medicine

Objective: Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) was introduced as a new diagnosis in the DSM-5 to describe a group of individuals who have avoidant and restrictive eating behaviours that are not driven by the weight and shape concerns that typify Anorexia Nervosa (AN). The aim of this review was to explore those studies that have directly compared groups of individuals with ARFID and AN, highlighting similarities and differences between the two conditions, to enhance our understanding of ARFID, as well as identify key gaps in knowledge. Method: A systematic scoping review of papers in Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science was undertaken to October 2021, following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Studies were included if they were in English and empirical research papers specifically comparing individuals with ARFID and AN. Results: Twenty-eight original research publications were identified. This literature was synthesised and categorised into seven subject areas: sociodemographic characteristics, eating-disorder psychopathology, psychiatric comorbidities, medical comorbidities/complications, endocrine differences, bone health and clinical outcomes. While many of the ARFID characteristics and symptoms are similar to those found in individuals experiencing AN, the current evidence base reveals many differences between these conditions and supports ARFID as a distinct clinical entity, although there is a limited understanding in all areas. Discussion: Although ARFID and AN are both classified as restrictive eating disorders, they are very distinct entities with differences in sociodemographic characteristics, eating symptoms, comorbidities, and clinical outcomes. This review helps to improve our knowledge about ARFID and addresses future research challenges.