J Korean Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry.  2009 Feb;20(1):39-43.

Psychiatric Treatment of Ruminative Vomiting and the Associated Weight Loss in an Adolescent Boy with Autism: A Case Report

• Shin YO
• Rhee MS

Abstract

We treated the persistent ruminative vomiting of a 13-year-old autistic boy by using a behavioral and psychopharmacological approach in a closed ward. Before the interventions, the patient had lost about 10kg of body weight due to very high-frequency ruminative vomiting. Together with psychopharmacological trials, the psychiatric treatment included a combination of a behavioral approach and food regulation that emphasized food restrictions, and we provided regular light meals. There was a considerable reduction of the ruminative vomiting and 2kg weight gain was achieved during the admission. These therapeutic gains were maintained at the 4-month follow-up assessment and the vomiting symptom reached a near-zero level and the weight loss were recovered by about 8kg. The issues related to the treatment approaches for ruminative vomiting with autism are discussed.

Keyword

Autism; Ruminative vomiting; Psychiatric treatment

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Autistic Disorder
Body Weight
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Light
Meals
Vomiting
Weight Gain
Weight Loss