Overview of diagnosis and presentation

This chapter opens with a description of the background to the introduction ARFID as a diagnosis, to orientate the reader to the content of this and ensuing chapters. Given the variability in clinical presentation, and high rates of reported co-morbidities associated with ARFID, diagnostic practice can be complex. A certain amount of clinical judgement is inherent in the diagnostic criteria, which for clinical purposes may be appropriate, but represents a challenge in defining “cases” for research. As with any newly introduced category, the intention is that ARFID should prove to be useful and updated on the basis of emerging research. Current literature on diagnosis and clinical presentation is discussed, covering papers on clinical practice, published reviews, and research findings. Practical suggestions are made to assist clinicians in structuring the process of confidently confirming the presence or absence of a diagnosis of ARFID.