The treatment of persistent vomiting through shaping and contingency management

A 13-year-old boy with a 10-day history of vomiting after swallowing any substance was successfully treated via shaping and contingency management. Points, which were exchanged for activities and phone privileges, were used to reward increasing vomiting latencies from baseline levels of 10 seconds to the point of no vomiting. Volume and consistency of swallowed substances also were gradually increased. Vomiting was totally eliminated after 12 days of treatment. Vomiting had not recurred at one year follow-up.