RUMINATION AND GROWTH FAILURE IN MALE FRATERNAL TWIN

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Abstract
Observations on a male infant with the rumination syndrome and growth failure are presented. The infant's twin sister did not exhibit rumination. The rumination and growth failure in the male twin began concurrently with intense marital conflict and anxiety in the family environment. Hospitalization of the male and mothering by the nursing staff strikingly reversed his growth failure. With aid from multiple sources a more suitable family environment was established, the father returned to the home, and psychiatric assistance was provided. Special attention was given to the male twin during and after the hospitalization. During this time the female twin's linear growth and weight increments began to decelerate, so that by age 2 3/12 years both twins were of comparable size. At age 3 4/12 years both were slightly above the 3rd percentile for linear growth. Possible explanations for the findings are presented and the subject of rumination in infants is reviewed. These cases offer further evidence that growth failure associated with certain types of disordered family environments may be psychosomatic in origin.

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