Maureen Seth is a 42 year old woman who vividly remembers choking on a salad about 3years ago. "It felt like my cucumber was a rock that just didn't move down my throat. It was awful. You know those little 'prickles' that stick out on the sides? Well, they felt like spikes!" Since that time, Maureen has been afraid to eat a range of solid vegetables because she is afraid she will choke again. "I can just look at a cucumber and feel my throat starting to close up," she adds. Maureen is afraid of embarrassing herself so she only eats at home and has lost weight. What is the most likely diagnosis to consider?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are consistent with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), which is characterized by a persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional or energy needs and involves the avoidance or restriction of food intake. Maureen's avoidance of solid vegetables due to fear of choking is an example of this disorder, which can lead to weight loss, malnutrition, and impaired psychosocial functioning. Pica, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa do not fully capture Maureen's symptoms and are not as fitting for her situation.

Maureen Seth Is a 42 Year Old Woman Who Vividly