Can talking therapy help picky eaters? new study tests CBT for ARFID
NCT ID NCT05954728
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested two treatments for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) in 53 children and teens aged 10-18. One group received cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT-AR) and the other received nutrition counseling. The goal was to see which approach better reduces fear of new foods and improves eating habits. Researchers also used brain scans to understand how the treatments work.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT-AR) and nutrition counseling
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that CBT-AR is an effective treatment to help children and teens with ARFID eat a wider variety of foods.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with only 53 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The therapy requires time and commitment, and not all participants may benefit.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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53 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2024
- Finished
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Mar 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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10 to 18 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Males and Females ages 10-18 years old * Current ARFID * Normal TSH or free T4 levels to rule out thyroid disease as cause of symptoms * Negative celiac screening panel indicating no active celiac disease as cause of symptoms * Fluency and literacy in English Exclusion Criteria: * BMI \< 5th percentile for sex and age * Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or recent initiation/cessation of oral contraceptive pills within 8 weeks of the pre-treatment study visit * Current/history of psychosis * Substance/alcohol use disorder (active within the past month) * Medical instability requiring inpatient care according to the American Psychiatric Association 2023 treatment guidelines for eating disorders * Laboratory abnormalities indicating a need for higher level of care * Complete lack of oral intake (suggesting a need for inpatient care) * Tube feeding (suggesting a need for tube weaning) * Active suicidal/homicidal ideation with intent or plan * Contraindications to MRI * History of major gastrointestinal tract surgery or serious medical condition (e.g., cancer) * Medical history of intellectual disability * Illiteracy
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program
Boston, Massachusetts, 02139, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.