Rumination Disorder
Conditions
Brief summary
The primary aim of this study is to pilot cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-RD) for 10 individuals ages 10 and older who have rumination disorder
Detailed description
Rumination disorder (RD; also known as rumination syndrome) is a disordered eating behavior characterized by the repeated regurgitation of food during or soon after eating. The frequency of repeated regurgitation of food typically occurs at least a few times per week, frequently daily with subsequent re-chewing, re-swallowing, or spitting out of the regurgitated material. The widely used technique for treatment of RD has typically been diaphragmatic breathing, which works by serving as a competing response to abdominal wall contractions, which is hypothesized to trigger regurgitation. However, the efficacy of diaphragmatic breathing remains unknown and has mainly been delivered through a one-session instruction with an occasional follow-up. In the absence of evidence-based treatments for RD, the investigators, alongside a collaboration with Dr. Jennifer Thomas at the Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program (EDCRP) at Massachusetts General Hospital, have created a manualized treatment, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Rumination Disorder (CBT-RD) informed by published case reports and currently in use at EDCRP at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Psychological Services Center at Drexel University. CBT-RD targets the habitual contraction of the abdominal wall and preceding events through the use of habit reversal, using primarily diaphragmatic breathing as a competing response. This study involves a phone screen to determine eligibility, followed by 5-8 sessions of CBT-RD (approximately 50 minutes each). A battery of questionnaires will be administered at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up intervals.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALCBT-RD
5-8 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy for rumination disorder (CBT-RD), held once per week in an outpatient setting.
Sponsors
Drexel University
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
There is only one arm in this study - all participants will be in the same arm, as all participants will receive CBT-RD. There is no control group.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
10 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Age 10 or above * Experience repeated regurgitation of food during or soon after eating, consistent with rumination disorder * If applicable, have stable psychiatric medication for the past three months
Exclusion criteria
* Currently engage (in past three months) in any regular compensatory behaviors (e.g., self-induced vomiting, laxative/diuretic use) * Current diagnosis of anorexia nervosa * Acute suicide risk * Are currently receiving psychological treatment for rumination disorder * Co-morbid clinically significant psychological disorder that would require attention beyond the study treatment (e.g., psychotic disorder, substance dependence) * Current pregnancy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pica, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, Rumination Disorder Interview (PARDI) | Change from baseline to 3-month follow-up | A semi-structured interview to assess pica, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), and/or rumination disorder diagnosis, severity, and symptoms. We will use the PARDI to assess frequency and severity of rumination behavior specifically. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed