Background: The recent scientific literature has highlighted how factors involved in the onset of under- and over-eating in childhood are related to early emotional dysregulation, dysfunctional relational patterns with caregivers, psychopathological symptoms in parents and genetic and epigenetic correlates. Therefore, there is a need to develop assessment programs that focus on the evaluation of these aspects.
Objectives: The present research project aims to evaluate psychological, genetic and epigenetic risk indicators in the clinical manifestations of Avoidant-Restrictive Feeding Disorder (ARFID) and Overeating (OE), with the goal of providing empirical data to plan specific and targeted interventions.
Methodology: We plan to recruit a total of N=900 families (with children between 24 and 36 months) divided in three samples: N=300 families with children with an ARFID diagnosis; N=300 families with children with an OE diagnosis; N=300 control families with children without medical and/or psychiatric disorders. Subjects of the three samples, depending on their age, will be given observation tools, self-reports and report-forms, to assess possible psychological risk factors. In respect of Istituto Superiore di Sanità research regulation during the Covid-19 pandemic, salivary samples will then be collected from all participants to assess biological risk factors that include specific genetic polymorphisms and global genome methylation.
Data analysis: a model of structural equations will be built, to understand the interaction between the different variables considered.
Discussion and innovation: the present research will allow to understand psychological, genetic and epigenetic risk indicators associated with clinical pictures of ARFID and OE, with the aim of implementing effective intervention programs.
