Response-contingent taste-aversion in treating chronic ruminative vomiting of institutionalised profoundly retarded children.

Two case studies are presented describing the use of response-contingent taste-aversion procedures to treat chronic ruminative vomiting of profoundly retarded children. Each treatment programme was designed to be carried out by para-professional staff in an institutional setting. Each programme eliminated rumination, with effects maintained one to nine months following treatment. For one subject who exhibited major weight-loss prior to intervention, substantial weight-gain was also demonstrated.