Family therapy shows promise for kids with eating disorder ARFID
NCT ID NCT04450771
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tested whether family therapy helps children aged 6 to 12 with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) gain weight and improve eating. 98 children received either family therapy or usual care over 4 months. Researchers measured weight changes and parental confidence in feeding. The goal is to see if family therapy works better than standard care.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- family therapy (behavioral intervention)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could provide an effective treatment option for children with ARFID, helping them gain weight and improve eating habits.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed study with 98 participants, so results are limited in size. The therapy may not work for all children, and long-term effects are not yet known.
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
-
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
-
98 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Dec 2020
- Finished
-
Jan 2026
- Lead sponsor
-
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
-
6 to 12 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Children meeting DSM-V criteria for ARFID * Children between the ages of 6 to 12 years old, living with their families * Medically stable for outpatient treatment according to the recommended thresholds of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Society of Adolescent Medicine. * Not engaging in another individual or family-based psychotherapy trial during the duration of treatment sessions in the study. * Less than 4 sessions of FBT * If taking medication for co-morbid disorders, participants must be on a stable dose of medication for 8 weeks (2 months) before participating. If the participant is on a new medication at baseline, but is discontinuing the medication in order to start the study, they must have discontinued the medication before beginning treatment. * EBW between 75% and 88%. * Able to fluently speak and read English Exclusion Criteria: * Current physical, psychotic illness or other mental illness requiring hospitalization * Current psychotic illness or mental retardation or other mental illnesses that would prohibit the use of psychotherapy * Current dependence on drugs or alcohol * Physical conditions (e.g. diabetes mellitus, pregnancy) known to influence eating or weight * Any medical complications or severe mental disorder (psychosis, low-functioning Autism) that may reduce compliance with the study procedures or require more intensive care to manage the symptoms * 4 or more sessions of FBT * Currently taking medication for co-morbid disorders that cannot be safely discontinued or prescribed for less than 2 months * Medically unstable for outpatient treatment according to the recommended thresholds of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Society of Adolescent Medicine, defined as: vital sign instability (heart rate less than 45 beats per minute), clinically significant orthostatic blood pressure with changes usually greater than 35 points or findings of gastrointestinal bleeding, dizziness, or syncope, IBW \<75%, hypothermia (body temperature less than 36 degrees centigrade), clinically significant electrolyte abnormalities, or prolonged QTc on electrocardiogram * Expected Body Weight (EBW) \<75% or \> 88% * Unable to fluently speak and read English * Parent excluded * Suicidal * In the case of patients with current, or a history of sexual or physical abuse by family members, perpetrators of the abuse will be excluded from treatment.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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
-
Stanford University
Stanford, California, 94305, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Could the gut microbiome hold clues to eating disorder recovery?
- 20,000-Person DNA hunt aims to crack eating disorder code
- Art and education: a new way to treat eating disorders?
- Could a common allergy drug help picky eaters gain weight?
- Mindfulness therapy for picky eaters? study halted early
- Can therapy help you eat again when your stomach hurts?