Psychiatric Treatment of Ruminative Vomiting and the Associated Weight Loss in an Adolescent Boy with Autism: A Case Report.
- Author:
Yun O SHIN
1
;
Moon Sung RHEE
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Chung Nam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Autism;
Ruminative vomiting;
Psychiatric treatment
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Autistic Disorder;
Body Weight;
Follow-Up Studies;
Humans;
Light;
Meals;
Vomiting;
Weight Gain;
Weight Loss
- From:Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
2009;20(1):39-43
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
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.
