The etiology and management of rumination and psychogenic vomiting: a review.

Chronic vomiting, in the absence of discernible physical illness, is a problem sometimes seen in individuals labeled as mentally retarded or mentally ill. This behavior often becomes life-threatening, particularly when it occurs in young children. Over the decades several theoretical analyses have been made of this behavior, and a wide range of treatments have been developed. This paper is a summarization of current and historical literature related to three types of chronic vomiting: (1) rumination in the infant; (2) rumination in the older child and adult; and (3) psychogenic vomiting. Treatment strategies are reviewed in some detail and are evaluated for the practitioner using effectiveness and efficiency as the main evaluative criteria. Several ideas for further research and theoretical analysis are also suggested.