Food selectivity in Autism Spectrum Disorder: implications of eating, sensory and behavioural profile
IntroductionTo characterise possible clinical associations between food selectivity, a typical aspect of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and certain commonly observed aspects of the phenotype: sensory abnormalities, challenging behaviour, autistic symptom intensity and Intellective Quotient.MethodsT...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| author | Maria Pia Riccio Maria Marino Raffaele Garotti Annalisa Tassiello Valeria Maffettone Mariangela Pezone Carmela Bravaccio |
| author_facet | Maria Pia Riccio Maria Marino Raffaele Garotti Annalisa Tassiello Valeria Maffettone Mariangela Pezone Carmela Bravaccio |
| author_sort | Maria Pia Riccio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionTo characterise possible clinical associations between food selectivity, a typical aspect of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and certain commonly observed aspects of the phenotype: sensory abnormalities, challenging behaviour, autistic symptom intensity and Intellective Quotient.MethodsThe present is a retrospective observational study. Fifty-two ASD subjects were enrolled that underwent a comprehensive psychodiagnostic assessment including the Short Sensory Profile questionnaires (to assess sensory abnormalities), the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist (to assess challenging behaviour) and the Food Preference Inventory (to assess food selectivity). The possible association between food selectivity, the intensity of autistic symptoms and the presence or absence of associated Intellective Disability was also subsequently assessed. Any differences between female and male were also assessed.ResultsStatistically significant correlations were observed between tactile, gustatory and olfactory sensitivity and food selectivity. These modalities were also found to predict greater food selectivity on regression analysis. No significant correlations were observed between the behavioural profile, intellective quotient and intensity of autistic symptomatology with food selectivity. In addition no significant scores were observed on the basis of sex.DiscussionAs far as can be seen from the results, the food selectivity of ASD subjects appears to be underlain mainly by sensory abnormalities and does not correlate with other clinical aspects of ASD subjects. Despite this, a comprehensive assessment of the various phenotypical aspects is still of fundamental importance. Further studies that could lead to a progressive characterisation of the phenotypical aspects of ASD subjects in order to provide increasingly personalised treatment are therefore considered useful. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ed41cbb3098d4a6b97cdc84819bfe3de |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-ed41cbb3098d4a6b97cdc84819bfe3de2025-08-20T02:01:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-06-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15874541587454Food selectivity in Autism Spectrum Disorder: implications of eating, sensory and behavioural profileMaria Pia Riccio0Maria Marino1Raffaele Garotti2Annalisa Tassiello3Valeria Maffettone4Mariangela Pezone5Carmela Bravaccio6Department of Maternal and Child Health, Child Neuropsichiatry, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria (AOU) Federico II, Naples, ItalyCognitive Psychotherapy School, Scuola di Psicoterapia Cognitiva (SPC), Naples, ItalyDepartment of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Translational Sciences, Child Neuropsychiatry, Federico II University, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Translational Sciences, Child Neuropsychiatry, Federico II University, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Translational Sciences, Child Neuropsychiatry, Federico II University, Naples, ItalyIntroductionTo characterise possible clinical associations between food selectivity, a typical aspect of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and certain commonly observed aspects of the phenotype: sensory abnormalities, challenging behaviour, autistic symptom intensity and Intellective Quotient.MethodsThe present is a retrospective observational study. Fifty-two ASD subjects were enrolled that underwent a comprehensive psychodiagnostic assessment including the Short Sensory Profile questionnaires (to assess sensory abnormalities), the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist (to assess challenging behaviour) and the Food Preference Inventory (to assess food selectivity). The possible association between food selectivity, the intensity of autistic symptoms and the presence or absence of associated Intellective Disability was also subsequently assessed. Any differences between female and male were also assessed.ResultsStatistically significant correlations were observed between tactile, gustatory and olfactory sensitivity and food selectivity. These modalities were also found to predict greater food selectivity on regression analysis. No significant correlations were observed between the behavioural profile, intellective quotient and intensity of autistic symptomatology with food selectivity. In addition no significant scores were observed on the basis of sex.DiscussionAs far as can be seen from the results, the food selectivity of ASD subjects appears to be underlain mainly by sensory abnormalities and does not correlate with other clinical aspects of ASD subjects. Despite this, a comprehensive assessment of the various phenotypical aspects is still of fundamental importance. Further studies that could lead to a progressive characterisation of the phenotypical aspects of ASD subjects in order to provide increasingly personalised treatment are therefore considered useful.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1587454/fullAutism Spectrum Disorderclinical phenotypefood selectivitysensory profilechallenging behaviorintellective quotient |
| spellingShingle | Maria Pia Riccio Maria Marino Raffaele Garotti Annalisa Tassiello Valeria Maffettone Mariangela Pezone Carmela Bravaccio Food selectivity in Autism Spectrum Disorder: implications of eating, sensory and behavioural profile Frontiers in Psychiatry Autism Spectrum Disorder clinical phenotype food selectivity sensory profile challenging behavior intellective quotient |
| title | Food selectivity in Autism Spectrum Disorder: implications of eating, sensory and behavioural profile |
| title_full | Food selectivity in Autism Spectrum Disorder: implications of eating, sensory and behavioural profile |
| title_fullStr | Food selectivity in Autism Spectrum Disorder: implications of eating, sensory and behavioural profile |
| title_full_unstemmed | Food selectivity in Autism Spectrum Disorder: implications of eating, sensory and behavioural profile |
| title_short | Food selectivity in Autism Spectrum Disorder: implications of eating, sensory and behavioural profile |
| title_sort | food selectivity in autism spectrum disorder implications of eating sensory and behavioural profile |
| topic | Autism Spectrum Disorder clinical phenotype food selectivity sensory profile challenging behavior intellective quotient |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1587454/full |
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