AUTHOR=Maggio Roberta , Turriziani Laura , Suraniti Silvana , Graziano Maria , Patanè Santina , Randazzo Anna Maria , Passantino Claudio , Di Cara Marcella , Quartarone Angelo , Cucinotta Francesca TITLE=Case report: Multicomponent intervention for severe food selectivity in autism spectrum disorder: a single case study JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry VOLUME=15 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1455356 DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1455356 ISSN=1664-0640 ABSTRACT=

Food selectivity is common in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The treatment used can be invasive and difficult to implement, necessitating the exploration of multicomponent approaches. This study presents the case of a 9-year-old autistic girl with severe food selectivity, who ate exclusively liquid and semi-solid foods. A multicomponent intervention protocol was developed, including stimulus fading and positive reinforcement techniques, to increase acceptance of new textures and foods. Treatment sessions showed significant improvement in acceptance of semi-solid and novel foods, with a reduction in problem behaviors associated with mealtime. This study suggests that a multicomponent intervention can significantly improve food acceptance and reduce mealtime distress, proving to be a practical and effective treatment strategy in an autistic child. The intervention led to an increase in food acceptance and a reduction in mealtime-related distress, potentially improving the child and family’s quality of life.