The role of attention in the elimination of chronic, life-threatening vomiting.
A 24-year-old retarded client, whose weight over 7 years had fallen from 130 pounds to 72 pounds due to vomiting, was being kept alive for 2 weeks by tube feeding. Behavioural treatment consisted of (a) 30 minutes of non-contingent staff attention, (b) 2 minutes of no attention contingent on vomiting, and (c) a resulting 2-minute delay in cleaning expelled vomitus. In 2 weeks, vomiting of 7 years history was reduced to zero. Through 2 months of follow-up, vomiting remained at zero and weight increased to 97 pounds. The results support previous studies which suggested that vomiting may be reduced and eliminated by manipulating attention.
Kelly
M B
MB
Parsons State Hospital and Training Center, Kansas.
Heffner
H E
HE
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001835:Body Weight; D004495:Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014839:Vomiting / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*