Eructophilia in bulimia nervosa: a clinical feature.

ABSTRACT

This report offers the first detailed description of repetitive eructation (belching) in a patient with bulimia nervosa. The case was a man in his 30's with bulimia nervosa characterized by daily bingeing and purging behavior. Detailed assessment revealed repetitive eructation which was construed as a learned behavior precipitated and maintained by aerophagia (air swallowing) secondary to regular binge-eating. Eructation was associated with a strong sense of "relief" that shared a common phenomenology with other purging behaviors. Repetitive eructation was addressed as part of outpatient treatment using a cognitive-therapy approach. Eructation became less frequent during outpatient treatment but the patient disengaged after six sessions. We define a new term "eructophilia" where repetitive eructation takes on an ego-syntonic, self-contained, and autonomous quality which serves as a reinforcing stimulus in itself. Issues of phenomenology and motivating factors are further discussed.