A multidisciplinary approach to the management of phagophobia

ABSTRACT Choking phobia, better referred to as phagophobia, leads to significant dietary restriction or complete refusal to eat and drink, which may result in dehydration, and/or malnutrition. Current literature is limited to case reports. Therefore, the current study is a summary of the outcomes from a multidisciplinary approach including medical and behavioral intervention to treat phagophobia. Participants included eight children (4 females) with a mean age of 9.63 years, who consumed nothing to minimal intake orally. A medical workup and appropriate interventions were completed prior to behavioral treatment. Participants completed outpatient behavioral feeding treatment with one requiring intensive outpatient therapy. Three of eight participants started an anti-anxiolytic medication due to significant anxiety. There was a statistically significant increase in food consumption (t = -4.275, p = .004) and weight pre- to post-treatment (t = -4.004, p = .005). The present study is a preliminary investigation supporting the use of a brief multidisciplinary treatment for children with phagophobia so they can resume an age-appropriate diet again. Limitations of this study include a small sample size, convenience sampling, and protocol that is not yet standardized.