Access to white bread as an intervention for chronic ruminative vomiting

Research has demonstrated that providing extra and sometimes unlimited food quantities following meals can be effective in reducing or eliminating ruminative vomiting in persons with developmental disabilities. In this study, providing access to white bread was evaluated as an alternative method of satiation-based treatment of rumination displayed by an 18-year old male with mental retardation. White bread was made available during 1-h periods following daily meals and this intervention produced a reduction in ruminating to near zero levels throughout the young man's waking hours. Long-term follow-up assessment revealed maintenance of low-frequency responding. Issues related to satiation treatment programs for ruminative vomiting are discussed.