OVERVIEW OF THE TREATMENT OF RUMINATION DISORDER FOR ADULTS IN A RESIDENTIAL SETTING

Rumination, or the chewing and re-swallowing of regurgitated stomach c ontents, can be found in up to 10% of institutionalized individuals wi th severe or profound mental retardation. Serious physical consequence s, including death, can result from the disorder. Unfortunately, rumin ation can be subtle and difficult to observe and often continues untre ated. Additionally, the research literature has provided divergent res ults without clear treatment guidance for clinicians. We present an ov erview of the history of rumination, a review of the literature on its etiology and treatment, and recommendations for future research. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.