Feasibility of the ROADE Program
Bulimia NervosaAnorexia Nervosa2 moreOccupational therapy is uniquely poised to help address chronic Eating Disorders (EDs) because of our holistic approach to client care. The complex and serious nature of EDs spans so many areas of life and wellbeing, it requires an intervention strategy that addresses the whole person across mental, physical, social, and spiritual realms. Unfortunately, specialized care for EDs can be difficult to find - especially for those not sick enough to be admitted to an inpatient facility but who are still struggling to thrive in daily life. For example, in New Mexico there is only one inpatient treatment center for EDs and no specialized outpatient services. This leaves many people suffering from EDs without options for care because they are not yet sick enough. There is a need for novel interventions in this setting that go beyond the traditional weight and food-focused medical interventions and seek to help empower individuals, work around challenges, and live their lives to the fullest. To meet this need in our community, the study team is developing a preliminary outpatient treatment program. The ROADE (Restorative Occupational Approaches for Disordered Eating) Program is an 8-week, structured, multimodal intervention seeking to reduce psychosocial symptoms and improve self-management skills for disordered eating. The intervention strategies range from: (1) wellness activities like mindfulness meditation to improve interoception, self-acceptance, and as a self-guided coping tool (2) adaptation of health management and self-care occupations to improve daily functioning while navigating ongoing disordered eating symptoms and (3) light exercise like Yoga and lymphatic drainage exercises to reconnect in a positive way with the body, improve digestion, promote relaxation, and reduce muscle tension. The current research investigates the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention while testing preliminary effects on eating disorder symptoms.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: A Treatment Development...
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)The primary aim of this study is to pilot cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-AR)for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) in one study for children and adolescents (ages 10-17 years) and one study for adults (ages 18-65 years).
Treating Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) Using Family-Based Treatment
Avoidant / Restrictive Food Intake DisorderAlthough Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) was formally introduced in DSM-5, no specialized intervention has yet been empirically studied. This randomized controlled crossover trial (RCCT) will test the feasibility and acceptability of a novel intervention, Family-Based Treatment of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (FBT-ARFID) for patients ages 5-12 years old.
Assessing the Impact of Weighted Blankets on Anxiety Among Inpatients With Anorexia Nervosa: a Study...
Anorexia NervosaAvoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder1 moreThe aim of this study is to conduct a randomized control trial (RCT) to assess the efficacy of weighted blankets (WB), on anxiety for patients with severe anorexia nervosa (AN) and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) in an inpatient medical setting. We hypothesize that using weighted blankets will reduce anxiety in these patient populations.
Children Food Neophobia - a Playful Intervention at a Kindergarten
Preschool ChildrenThe aim of this project is to investigate the efficacy of taste exposure-plus small reward in acceptance and consumption of vegetables among preschool children at school. In this context, interventions were attended at school in order to capture the influence of this environments towards consumption of vegetables among preschool children. For this, the methodology applied will be a repeated exposure protocol by introducing small rewards to encourage children to taste an unfamiliar or dislike food. Child intake (weight or number of pieces) and liking (hedonic scale) will be assessed at baseline sessions and exposure sessions. Moreover, child's neophobia will be evaluated and additional determinants of child neophobia, such as child's eating behaviour
The Good Tastes Study: Young Children's Food Acceptance Patterns
Food NeophobiaParentingChildren begin developing food acceptance and preferences during the first years of life, especially through repeated exposure and increased familiarity. Caregivers pay attention to the amounts of food that their children consume, and they also are sensitive to when their refuses to eat what is offered. This study will examine the interactions between caregivers and their infants when bitter vegetables are introduced to infants and toddlers. The goals for this study are to: understand if masking bitterness with very low levels of sugar or salt may facilitate whether infants accept new vegetables; understand if masking bitterness impacts caregivers' perceptions of infants' acceptance of new vegetables; and understand the stress levels experienced by infants and caregivers throughout this process.
Restrictive Eating Disorders: From Childhood Orality Disorder to Adolescent Dysensoriality
Eating Disorders in AdolescenceAvoidant Restrictive Food Intake DisorderThis study offers to determine whether adolescent patients with a restrictive eating disorder have variations in their sensoriality compared to a control group.