Autism and Eating Disorders/Disordered Eating (ARFID) – Module 8

Welcome to the NCAMH course on Autism and Eating Disorders/Disordered Eating (including ARFID)

• This two-day online training course introduces you to a “Model for understanding & supporting autistic people who experience Eating-Disorders and Disordered Eating Patterns (including ARIFD).”   This is also Module 8 in the BPS Approved Certificate and Diploma in Autism and Mental Health
• You will acquire essential knowledge and skills for supporting autistic people (diagnosed and undiagnosed) including access to resources and tools to support you in your practice.

There are ten lessons in this module including lessons on; understanding eating disorders/disordered eating and ARFID; rates, prevalence and risks associated with eating disorders amongst autistic people; spotting the signs of eating disorders amongst autistic people (including introduction to a spotting the signs tool); understanding the ARFID presentation and supporting the ARFID client; main treatment approaches and barriers to services; evidence based treatment approaches for supporting autistic people (the PEACE Pathway), nutritional input when supporting re-feeding;access to resources and skills. 

We introduce you to tools, resources, strategies and good practice tips across this module, including ARFID resources, PEACE Pathway resources and specific NCAMH resources which we share with you in lessons 3, 4, 9 and 10.  This includes the, “Autism and Eating Disorders Spotting the Signs Tool,” and three resource packs including:  Sensory Food Profiling Resource Pack, SPINS mealtime support resource pack and the 10 Environmental and Communication Adjustments Resource Pack for supporting mealtimes. You can use these resources with your clients to increase self-awareness alongside introducing strategies for self-care, compassion, safety, self-advocacy, self-soothing, increased autonomy and control. 

We are joined in this module by Asher, an autistic female with a demand avoidant profile, who experienced a co-occurring eating disorder.  Asher talks about how the eating disorder developed and what adjustments were helpful in supporting her recovery.  In lesson 4, Jim, an autistic man, talks about how eating disorders also affect men, and how autism may predispose autistic people to disordered eating patterns, which if left unchecked can present risks. 

In lesson 5, Dr Gillian Harris, author of Food Refusal and Avoidant Eating in children, including those on the autistic spectrum, walks us through the essentials of both understanding the ARFID presentation and supporting clients.  We share with you a number of ARFID specific tools and resources.  We also listen to Tom in lesson 5, an autistic young man, diagnosed with ARFID, who shares his experience of ARFID and seeking support.  In lesson 6, a parent/carer talks to us about the barriers her family encountered when seeking support for ARFID and what has been most helpful.

In lesson 7 we are joined by Professor Kate Tchanturia, the Clinical lead for the PEACE Pathway, the only evidence based eating disorder pathway adjusted for meeting the needs of autistic people.  Kate talks to us about the key components of the PEACE Pathway and what resources may be helpful when making adjustments to practice.  

In lesson 8, Paola Falcoski, an advanced specialist eating disorder dietician provides an overview of managing nutritional input alongside autistic people with eating disorders.

There are ten lessons in this course with a mixture of tutor-led sessions, podcasts, additional video clips, articles, worksheets/exercises, review of resources and completion of reflective practice worksheets.

You will be able to access the course handouts, workbooks and reflective practice worksheets from the welcome and introduction page.  You can access any worksheets, tools and resources from within the Lesson on the learning management platform.

Wishing well with the course.

Warmest wishes,

Jenny Phaure

Clinical Director

MA (Child and Ad Psych, UKCP), MSc

National Centre for Autism and Mental Health

www.ncamh.co.uk

Phone: 07545 190915