Explain ARFID and graded food exposure to a parent — CASC communication station

Station brief

Format. Communication station, approximately 7–10 minutes active time after reading. You are the psychiatry registrar in a child and adolescent / eating disorders clinic. [5]

Candidate instructions. Explain ARFID in plain language, how it differs from anorexia nervosa, why medical monitoring still matters, what graded exposure and family-supported renourishment involve, and give a balanced answer on medication. Check understanding and invite questions. The examiner plays the parent. [1][2][3]

Candidate scenario

Your patient meets criteria for ARFID with sensory selectivity and fear of choking after a canteen incident. Weight has fallen and the paediatric team has checked vital signs and bloods. The plan is outpatient multidisciplinary care with dietetics and specialised psychological treatment (CBT-AR principles and parental leadership of meals/variety). The parent fears “forcing food will make trauma worse” and asks whether a multivitamin or appetite tablet is enough. [1][2][3][4]

Marking domains

• Empathy, structure, non-blaming stance toward parents
• Accurate plain-language model of ARFID (restriction without fear of fatness; sensory and fear pathways)
• Clear discrimination from anorexia nervosa
• Why medical checks matter (growth, heart rate, electrolytes, deficiencies)
• Graded exposure rationale (not harsh flooding) and family role in meals/variety
• Medication: not a first-line cure; supplements help deficiencies but do not expand eating alone
• Safety-net and collaboration; teach-back [1][2][3][5]