Reduction of Rumination Using a Supplemental Starch Feeding Procedure

Abstract

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.

Implementing a low‐starch biscuit‐free diet in zoo gorillas: The impact on behavior

“…Alternatively, the decrease in starch and increase in fiber may have had a physiological impact that decreased R/R. In humans that perform rumination behavior, a starch satiation diet (feeding large quantities of starch‐containing items until the subject is full) has been successful at reducing this behavior [Dudley et al, ; Darling et al, ]. However, given the link between simple carbohydrates and some health problems in humans such as weight gain [Rast et al, ] and heart disease [Kopp, ], this may not be an optimal treatment.…”

A Multicomponent Evaluation of Food Properties Affecting Rumination in an Adult with Intellectual Disabilities

“…Despite the limitations described above, there are several significant implications of Experiment 1. First, I measured rumination for 1 hr after consumption, an observation duration that is substantially longer than recently published studies (e.g., Lyons et al, 2007;Darling et al, 2011;& Woods et al, 2013). This was important because I was able to better detect whether brief pauses in rumination were predictive of cessation of rumination.…”

“…Finally, the results of Experiment 1 highlight the utility of evaluating the effects of specific food quantities on rumination by equating food amount, calories, or both. Although some control of food intake is a component of several procedural manipulations (e.g., Darling et al, 2011), few studies have documented and isolated the specific types and quantities of food provided and/or consumed.…”

“…Data on rumination were recorded across the waking hours of the day and demonstrated significant decreases during SF phases compared to the DRO plus teeth brushing phases (which were ineffective). Similarly, Darling et al (2011) gave one participant four slices of white bread, divided into bite sized pieces and delivered on a variable time schedule of 30 -45 s for up to 20 min. The overall period of observation included the 20 min of SF plus an additional 25 min following the cessation of the SF interval.…”