Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (대한소아청소년정신의학회)
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Psychiatric Treatment of Ruminative Vomiting and the Associated Weight Loss in an Adolescent Boy with Autism : A Case Report

자폐증 청소년에서 체중감소와 연관된 반추적 구토의 정신과적 치료

  • Shin, Yun-O (Department of Psychiatry, Chung Nam University Hospital) ;
  • Rhee, Moon-Sung (Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, Ministry of Justice)
  • 신윤오 (충남대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실) ;
  • 이문성 (국립법무병원 정신과)
  • Published : 2009.02.28
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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.

Keywords

References

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