A Study of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Rumination Disorder

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Rumination Disorder

• Registration Number: NCT03113682
• Lead Sponsor: Drexel University

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.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-04-01
• Study First Submitted: 2017-04-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-04-12
• Study First Posted: 2017-04-13
• Status Verified: 2018-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2018-09-27
• Last Update Posted: 2018-09-28
• Primary Completion: 2019-01-01
• Study Completion: 2019-01-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 7

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

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
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.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Drexel University; 🇺🇸 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States