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Pediatric Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder and gastrointestinal-related Somatic Symptom Disorders: Overlap in clinical presentation.

Author
Abstract
:

Certain presentations of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders (SSRDs) have conceptual overlap, namely, distress and impairment related to a physical symptom. This study compared characteristics of pediatric patients diagnosed with ARFID to those with gastrointestinal (GI)-related SSRD. A 5-year retrospective chart review at a tertiary care pediatric hospital comparing assessment data of patients with a diagnosis of ARFID ( = 62; 69% girls, = 14.08 years) or a GI-related SSRD ( = 37; 68% girls, = 14.25 years). Patients diagnosed with ARFID had a significantly lower percentage of median BMI than those with GI-related SSRD. Patients diagnosed with ARFID were most often assessed in the Eating Disorders Program, whereas patients diagnosed with an SSRD were most often assessed by Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. Groups did not differ on demographics, psychiatric diagnoses, illness duration, or pre-assessment services/medications. GI symptoms were common across groups. Patients diagnosed with an SSRD had more co-occurring medical diagnoses. A subset (16%) of patients reported symptoms consistent with both diagnoses. Overlap is observed in the clinical presentation of pediatric patients diagnosed with ARFID or GI-related SSRD. Some group differences emerged, including anthropometric measurements and co-occurring medical conditions. Findings may inform diagnostic classification and treatment approach.

Year of Publication
:
2022
Journal
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Clinical child psychology and psychiatry
Volume
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27
Issue
:
2
Number of Pages
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385-398
ISSN Number
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1359-1045
URL
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https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13591045211048170?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dpubmed
DOI
:
10.1177/13591045211048170
Short Title
:
Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry
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