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Food Phobia

Food phobia is the term we use for sudden, acute food refusal in children. It’s also sometimes referred to as “functional dysphagia” or “psychotic food refusal.” It’s characterized by a sudden onset of symptoms such as:

  • Refusal to chew or swallow any food or liquids
  • Spitting of food
  • A fear of choking

Kartini Clinic’s program, the nation’s first standardized pediatric treatment protocol for food phobia, focuses on involving the family in care, removing the patient from an inpatient setting at the earliest opportunity, and returning them to their community as quickly as possible. For more on food phobia, check out Dr. O’Toole’s blog; there you can also search our blog archives using search term ‘food phobia’. 

If you are looking for eating disorder help or would like more information about our food phobia treatment program, please call us at 971-319-6800 and speak to our intake coordinator. For your convenience, you may also submit an online request below. We answer all requests promptly.

Recent Blog Posts

Dr. O’Toole to retire at the end of 2020.

December 16, 2020 By Morgan O'Toole-Smith

Kartini School: A Success Story

January 19, 2021 By Morgan O'Toole-Smith

Tips for Motivating Kids in School

January 19, 2021 By Morgan O'Toole-Smith

Breaking Science News: The Latest Genetic Study of Anorexia Nervosa

July 18, 2019 By Julie O'Toole

Guest BLOG: F.E.A.S.T. on Euthanasia and anorexia nervosa

July 10, 2019 By Julie O'Toole

The Importance of School in Holistic Recovery from an Eating Disorder

June 20, 2019 By Julie O'Toole

  • Eating Disorder Treatment
    • Anorexia Nervosa
      • Signs & Symptoms: Anorexia
      • Causes and Triggers: Anorexia
      • Treatment: Anorexia
    • Bulimia Nervosa
      • Signs & Symptoms: Bulimia
      • Causes and Triggers: Bulimia
      • Treatment: Bulimia
    • Food Phobia
      • Signs & Symptoms: Food Phobia
      • Causes and Triggers: Food Phobia
      • Treatment: Food Phobia
    • ARFID
    • Treatment Overview
      • Inpatient
      • Partial Hospitalization (PHP)
      • Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
      • Outpatient
      • Cost of Treatment
  • Eating Disorder Resources
    • For Referring Providers
      • Hospitalization Criteria
      • Direct Referrals
    • For Parents & Guardians
      • Top Tips for Parents
      • Understanding Your Insurance
      • Talking to Your Employer
      • Insurance FAQ
      • Mental Health Parity Law
      • Family Housing Information
      • School During Treatment
      • Give Food a Chance
    • Kartini School
    • Research & Resources
    • Treatment Videos
    • Glossary of Eating Disorder Terms
  • About Kartini Clinic
    • Why Kartini is Different
    • Will Treatment Work?
    • Our Staff
    • Contact Us
    • Careers at Kartini

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From Our Blog

Dr. O’Toole to retire at the end of 2020.

December 16, 2020

It is with decidedly mixed emotions that we announce our founder and chief medical officer, Julie O'Toole MD, MPH, will retire at the end of this year. First I'd like to mention that (for once!) this has nothing to do with the pandemic. Dr. O'Toole's retirement has been planned for some time; … Read Post...

Kartini School: A Success Story

January 19, 2021

[Ed. note: This is one in a series of guest blogs by our Kartini School administrator, Mary Gunesch. With schools returning to at least partial in-person instruction we thought it a good time to focus on this subject.]  When a student begins treatment at Kartini Clinic, we reach out to their … Read Post...

Tips for Motivating Kids in School

January 19, 2021

[Ed. note: This is one in a series of guest blogs by our Kartini School administrator, Mary Gunesch. With schools returning to at least partial in-person instruction we thought it a good time to focus on this subject.] At Kartini Clinic for Children and Families we take the second part of our … Read Post...

The Kartini Clinic Difference

At Kartini Clinic we practice only evidence-based, family-centered eating disorder treatment. Our program is a multi-disciplinary medical and psychiatric treatment model rather than an exclusively psychiatric approach to eating disorder treatment.  read more »

Eating Disorder Quick Links

Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
Eating Disorder Treatment

Resource Quick Links

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Contact Us

Tel: (971) 319-6800
Fax: (503) 282-3409

help@kartiniclinic.com

3530 N Vancouver, Suite 400
Portland, OR 97227

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