REDUCTION OF RUMINATION USING A SUPPLEMENTAL STARCH FEEDING PROCEDURE

A supplemental starch feeding (SSF) procedure was used to decrease rumination in a 27‐year‐old man. A multiple baseline across mealtimes design determined treatment efficacy, followed by 26 months of maintenance and fading implemented by direct‐care staff. Following intermittent meals, four slices of bread were offered in a paced manner, after which the frequency of rumination was measured. Subsequent to the SSF sessions, the participant's rumination reduced 47%, from 0.19 per minute (8.5 per session) after baseline sessions to 0.09 per minute (4.1 per session) after treatment sessions. Ongoing measures in the natural setting continued to show reductions through maintenance and fading of the supplemental feeding. No weight gain was noted during the time the procedure was in place. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.