About this course

Learning Objectives

• Identify clinical features that differentiate feeding difficulties in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).
• Describe the limitations of current diagnostic tools, such as the PARDI scale, in assessing restrictive eating behaviors in autistic populations.
• Apply principles of the CBT-AR protocol to tailor interventions for patients with ASD experiencing sensory-related feeding challenges.

Learning Levels

• All levels

Course Instructor(s)

• 

  Karina Ramirez, MD

  Karina Aurora Ramirez Arreola is a general and child psychiatrist with broad experience in autism spectrum conditions and neurodivergent populations. She is certified in ADOS-2 and other gold-standard tools for autism assessment, and her clinical work emphasizes early diagnosis, comprehensive evaluation, and interdisciplinary care. She also specializes in the complex comorbidities between Eating Disorders (EDs) and autism, integrating evidence-based psychopharmacology with adapted psychotherapeutic protocols. Dr. Ramírez Arreola holds a Master’s degree in Eating Disorders from Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (Chile) and serves as Titular Psychiatrist at Comenzar de Nuevo A.C., a leading residential program in Monterrey, Mexico. She is a member of the Eating Disorders Association and of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP), actively contributing to international knowledge exchange and best practices in neurodivergence and ED treatment.

• 

  Emilia Ortiz, LP

  Emilia Ortiz Escamilla is a Clinical Psychologist at Comenzar de Nuevo A.C., providing individual and group psychotherapy in an inpatient program for eating disorders and complex cases. She holds a B.A. in Clinical and Health Psychology from Tecnológico de Monterrey (2023) and is pursuing an M.A. in Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy at the University of Palermo, Buenos Aires. She also holds Diplomas in Psychotraumatology and Brief Systemic Psychotherapy, grounding her integrative, trauma-informed approach. Her experience includes clinical internships in psychiatric, pediatric, and community settings—such as Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús (Madrid) and Back2Back Mexico—supporting adolescents in foster care. Previously, she worked as a behavioral therapist using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with children and adolescents in private and institutional contexts. Emilia has specialized training in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD, CBT for Body Dysmorphic Disorder, suicide prevention and postvention, and DBT clinical strategies.

References

• Sader, M., Weston, A., Buchan, K., Kerr‐Gaffney, J., Gillespie‐Smith, K., Sharpe, H., & Duffy, F. (2025). The Co‐Occurrence of Autism and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): A Prevalence‐Based Meta‐Analysis. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 58(3), 473-488. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.24369
• Nygren, G., Linnsand, P., Hermansson, J., Dinkler, L., Johansson, M., & Gillberg, C. (2021). Feeding problems including avoidant restrictive food intake disorder in young children with autism spectrum disorder in a multiethnic population. Frontiers in pediatrics, 9, 780680. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2021.780680
• Nimbley, E., Golds, L., Sharpe, H., Gillespie‐Smith, K., & Duffy, F. (2022). Sensory processing and eating behaviours in autism: A systematic review. European Eating Disorders Review, 30(5), 538-559. doi: 10.1002/erv.2920.
• Ahearn, W. H., Castine, T., Nault, K., & Green, G. (2001). An assessment of food acceptance in children with autism or pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 31(5), 505-511. doi: 10.1023/a:1012221026124.