Research has demonstrated that providing extra and sometimes unlimited food
quantities following meals can be effective in reducing or eliminating rum
inative vomiting in persons with developmental disabilities. In this study,
providing access to white bread was evaluated as an alternative method of
satiation-based treatment of rumination displayed by an 18-year old male wi
th mental retardation. White bread was made available during 1-h periods fo
llowing daily meals and this intervention produced a reduction in ruminatin
g to near zero levels throughout the young man's waking hours. Long-term fo
llow-up assessment revealed maintenance of low-frequency responding. Issues
related to satiation treatment programs for ruminative vomiting are discus
sed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.