Related Experiment Videos
Access to white bread as an intervention for chronic ruminative vomiting
1The May Institute Inc. and The May Center for Applied Research, Norwood, MA 02062, USA.
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
|September 17, 1999
Summary
Providing extra white bread after meals effectively reduced ruminative vomiting in an 18-year-old male with developmental disabilities. This satiation-based treatment led to near-zero rumination and maintained results long-term.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Developmental Disabilities Research
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
Background:
- Rumination, a disorder characterized by regurgitation and re-chewing of food, can significantly impact individuals with developmental disabilities.
- Satiation-based treatments, involving increased food availability post-meal, have shown promise in managing ruminative vomiting.
Observation:
- This study investigated the efficacy of providing white bread as a satiation strategy for an 18-year-old male with mental retardation exhibiting ruminative vomiting.
- The intervention involved offering white bread during a 1-hour period following daily meals.
Findings:
- The introduction of white bread access resulted in a significant reduction in ruminative vomiting episodes, decreasing to near zero levels during waking hours.
- Long-term follow-up confirmed the maintenance of this low-frequency responding, indicating sustained treatment effectiveness.
Implications:
- This research suggests that simple, accessible satiation strategies, such as offering specific foods like white bread, can be effective in treating ruminative vomiting in individuals with developmental disabilities.
- The findings support the broader application of satiation-based behavioral interventions for managing rumination and improving quality of life for affected individuals.