Associations between avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder profiles and trauma exposure in veteran men and women

Objective Trauma exposure, particularly interpersonal trauma, is prevalent among individuals with eating disorders (EDs), and trauma exposure and the subsequent development of posttraumatic stress disorder have been associated with poorer outcomes for ED treatment. To our knowledge, there are no published investigations of trauma exposure among individuals with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), a new diagnosis introduced by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders‐5. We investigated associations between trauma exposure and ARFID profiles in a sample of U.S. military veteran men and women. Method Participants in this cross‐sectional study included 1494 veterans randomly selected from the population of post‐9/11 veterans who had separated from military service within the previous 18 months. They completed a survey assessing EDs, including the Nine Item ARFID Screen and trauma exposure. Results Results revealed that 9.8% of the sample exceeded cutoffs for any ARFID profile, with the picky eating profile being the most common. Trauma exposure was prevalent among participants who exceeded cutoffs for ARFID, particularly the picky eating profile. Discussion Findings highlight the importance of addressing EDs, including ARFID, in veterans. It will be important to examine the extent to which trauma and trauma‐related disorders impact treatment outcomes for individuals with ARFID. Public Significance Statement Trauma exposure is common among individuals with eating disorders. However, the association between trauma and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) has not been investigated. We found that many men and women in our sample of U.S. military veterans who exceeded cutoffs for ARFID profiles reported trauma exposure. Screening for trauma exposure among patients with ARFID is important so that treatment can be optimized.