THE PUNISHMENT OF PERSISTENT VOMITING: A CASE STUDY¹

Abstract

In an attempt to control severe vomiting in a mentally retarded patient, shock was delivered after each stomach tension, a pre-vomiting response that consisted of an overt abdominal movement. Contingent shock resulted in an initial transitory increase followed by a decrease in rate of stomach tensions. There was a decrease in emitted vomitus, which resulted in a weight gain of the patient.