Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)COUNTERACTNCT05954728
Cognitive-behavioral Therapy vs. Nutrition Counseling for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
A study testing Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (CBT-AR) and Nutrition Counseling for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder in people with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study is a randomized controlledlinical trial, assessing the efficacy of cognitive- behavioral therapy (CBT-AR) and nutrition counseling for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) for children and adolescents (ages 10-18 years). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 10 to 18 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
- What is being tested?
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (CBT-AR) and Nutrition Counseling for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 53 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 31 Jan 2024to 27 Mar 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 10 to 18 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- 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
Who cannot join
- 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
Show all 13Show fewer
- 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
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program
Boston, Massachusetts, 02139
About this study
Official title: Cognitive and Neural Mechanisms of Cognitive-behavioral Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
This study is a randomized controlledlinical trial, assessing the efficacy of cognitive- behavioral therapy (CBT-AR) and nutrition counseling for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) for children and adolescents (ages 10-18 years).
- Being tested
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (CBT-AR), Nutrition Counseling for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
- Medical subject headings
- Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (CBT-AR)Behavioural
CBT-AR is a four-stage modular treatment for ARFID delivered by a mental health clinician. The four stages include: 1) Psychoeducation and early change; 2) Treatment planning; 3) Addressing maintaining mechanisms; and 4) Relapse prevention. For participants ages 10-15 years, patients/guardians attend the sessions. For patients ages 16 and up, the therapy is individual.
Nutrition Counseling for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake DisorderBehavioural
Nutrition counseling will be provided by skilled registered dietitians at the MGH Translational and Clinical Research Center (TCRC). Sessions focus on the foods necessary for a healthy diet, how to meet nutritional needs, how to incorporate healthy exercise, and support for making these changes. For participants ages 10-15 years, patients/guardians attend the sessions. For patients ages 16 and up, the therapy is individual.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| CBT-AR | Experimental | See intervention description Receives: Behavioral: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (CBT-AR) |
| Nutrition Counseling | Experimental | See intervention description Receives: Behavioral: Nutrition Counseling for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Food Neophobia Scale
Validated 6-item version of the Food Neophobia Scale used to assess food neophobia on a scale from 1 to 7, with higher scores indicating higher levels of food neophobia. The lowest score possible is 7, indicating low food neophobia, and highest score possible is 42, indicating high food neophobia.
Measured: Change from baseline food neophobia measured at pre-treatment to after each weekly session of treatment and after the complete 15 weeks of treatment measured at post-treatment
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) food cue paradigm
Used to measure neural activation in response to food cues. Higher scores indicate higher neural activation. There is no minimum or maximum for this measure.
Measured: Change from baseline neural activation in response to food cues measured at pre-treatment to after 15 weeks of treatment measured at post-treatment
Secondary outcomes (5)
General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (GNKQ)
A revised version of the General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (GNKQ) used to evaluate knowledge of nutrition. Scores are gathered through a series of multiple-choice questions. The lowest score possible is 0, indicating low knowledge of nutrition, and the highest score possible is 14, indicating high knowledge of nutrition.
Measured: Change from baseline measured at pre-treatment to after 15 weeks of treatment measured at post-treatment
Pica, ARFID, and Rumination Disorder Interview (PARDI)
A semi-structured clinical interview assessing the symptoms and severity of Pica, ARFID, and Rumination Disorder. This interview is used to determine the presence and severity of each ARFID profile. Scores for each severity measure are assessed on a scale from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater severity.
Measured: Change from baseline measured at pre-treatment to after 15 weeks of treatment measured at post-treatment
Pica, ARFID, and Rumination Disorder ARFID Questionnaire (PARDI-AR-Q)
A 32-item revised version of the Pica, ARFID, and Rumination Disorder Interview used to assess ARFID severity and presence of Pica or Rumination Disorder. Each item is assessed on a scale from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater severity.
Measured: Change from baseline measured at pre-treatment to after 15 weeks of treatment measured at post-treatment
4-Day Food Record measuring percent of calories consumed from fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, and dairy food groups.
A record of participant diet for four days prior to the Pre-Treatment Assessment and for another four days prior to the Post-Treatment Assessment. Dietary information is calculated from the recorded foods.
Measured: Change from baseline measured at pre-treatment to after 15 weeks of treatment measured at post-treatment
24-Hour Recall measuring percent of calories consumed from fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, and dairy food groups.
A detailed recall of everything a participant has consumed during the 24 hours prior to the Pre-Treatment Assessment, and again prior to the Post-Treatment Assessment. Dietary information is calculated from the recorded foods.
Measured: Change from baseline measured at pre-treatment to after 15 weeks of treatment measured at post-treatment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Jul 2023
- Study start31 Jan 2024
- Primary completion27 Mar 2026
- Study completion27 Mar 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Massachusetts General HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 53 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jennifer Thomas, Massachusetts General Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05954728
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2023P001491
- Other IDs
- R61MH129331
- Acronym
- COUNTERACT
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 5 Jul 2023
- Last updated
- 23 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: The investigators will upload de-identified data to the NIMH National Data Archive at the conclusion of the study
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Cognitive and Neural Mechanisms of Cognitive-behavioral Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05954728
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- COUNTERACT / 2023P001491
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 53 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Massachusetts General HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Study start
- 31 Jan 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 27 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 27 Mar 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 20 Jul 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study is a randomized controlledlinical trial, assessing the efficacy of cognitive- behavioral therapy (CBT-AR) and nutrition counseling for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) for children and adolescents (ages 10-18 years).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| CBT-AR | Experimental | Behavioral: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (CBT-AR)See intervention description |
| Nutrition Counseling | Experimental | Behavioral: Nutrition Counseling for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake DisorderSee intervention description |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 10 to 18 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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
Key exclusion criteria (13 listed)
- 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
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (CBT-AR)CBT-AR is a four-stage modular treatment for ARFID delivered by a mental health clinician. The four stages include: 1) Psychoeducation and early change; 2) Treatment planning; 3) Addressing maintaining mechanisms; and 4) Relapse prevention. For participants ages 10-15 years, patients/guardians attend the sessions. For patients ages 16 and up, the therapy is individual. | Behavioural | CBT-AR |
| Nutrition Counseling for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake DisorderNutrition counseling will be provided by skilled registered dietitians at the MGH Translational and Clinical Research Center (TCRC). Sessions focus on the foods necessary for a healthy diet, how to meet nutritional needs, how to incorporate healthy exercise, and support for making these changes. For participants ages 10-15 years, patients/guardians attend the sessions. For patients ages 16 and up, the therapy is individual. | Behavioural | Nutrition Counseling |
Primary outcome
Food Neophobia Scale
Time frame: Change from baseline food neophobia measured at pre-treatment to after each weekly session of treatment and after the complete 15 weeks of treatment measured at post-treatment
Validated 6-item version of the Food Neophobia Scale used to assess food neophobia on a scale from 1 to 7, with higher scores indicating higher levels of food neophobia. The lowest score possible is 7, indicating low food neophobia, and highest score possible is 42, indicating high food neophobia.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) food cue paradigm
Time frame: Change from baseline neural activation in response to food cues measured at pre-treatment to after 15 weeks of treatment measured at post-treatment
Used to measure neural activation in response to food cues. Higher scores indicate higher neural activation. There is no minimum or maximum for this measure.
5 secondary outcomes
General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (GNKQ)
Time frame: Change from baseline measured at pre-treatment to after 15 weeks of treatment measured at post-treatment
Pica, ARFID, and Rumination Disorder Interview (PARDI)
Time frame: Change from baseline measured at pre-treatment to after 15 weeks of treatment measured at post-treatment
Pica, ARFID, and Rumination Disorder ARFID Questionnaire (PARDI-AR-Q)
Time frame: Change from baseline measured at pre-treatment to after 15 weeks of treatment measured at post-treatment
4-Day Food Record measuring percent of calories consumed from fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, and dairy food groups.
Time frame: Change from baseline measured at pre-treatment to after 15 weeks of treatment measured at post-treatment
24-Hour Recall measuring percent of calories consumed from fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, and dairy food groups.
Time frame: Change from baseline measured at pre-treatment to after 15 weeks of treatment measured at post-treatment
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. The investigators will upload de-identified data to the NIMH National Data Archive at the conclusion of the study
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (CBT-AR) and Nutrition Counseling for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder in people with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 13 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Food Neophobia Scale (time frame: Change from baseline food neophobia measured at pre-treatment to after each weekly session of treatment and after the complete 15 weeks of treatment measured at post-treatment). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Jun 2026.