[Cyclical vomiting as the leading symptom of regression]

A 17-year old boy with primary mental retardation of unknown aetiology and cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is reported. Missing an organic cause of the episodes therapeutic procedures remained symptomatic for a 15 years time period. The report focusses the CVS as a regressive mechanism triggered by a mental retardation of the child which permanently disturbed the interaction between parents and child. Psychotherapeutic approach was successful in the following respects: The advantage by illness to vomit at home was continuously reduced by admitting the boy to a hospital at every ongoing attack. Hypnotherapeutic techniques were able to substitute the "malign" regression (CVS) successively by inducing a "benign" kind of regression. Family therapy could induce new and more intense non-verbal patterns of communication which where hitherto unknown in this family.