The proposed study represents the first attempt to systematically investigate the use of DCS
as an adjunct to behavioral intervention to address chronic food aversion through an
randomized control drug trial in children treated at the Marcus Autism Center's Pediatrics
Feeding Disorders Program. This pilot and feasibility study will involve a total of 16
participants randomly assigned to experimental conditions: behavioral intervention or
behavioral intervention + DCS (8 in each group). All participants will receive the same
behavioral protocol involving three treatment sessions per day (45 minutes in length), for a
total of 15 sessions across five consecutive days. In addition, participants in the
behavioral intervention + DCS group will receive a low dose (0.7 mg/kg) of the drug using an
acute dosing methodology, which has been demonstrated to produce a nearly negligible side
effect profile with comparable treatment outcomes to chronic dosing. Timing of dosing will
occur 1 hour prior to behavioral intervention, in line with prior clinical studies. Study
staff, with consultation from a psychiatrist, will observe administration of DCS to
participants by caregivers via their preferred method of formula consumption (bottle, cup, or
tube) in liquid form. Participants will be evaluated during each treatment session and at
follow-up using trained observers to collect data on mealtime behaviors, including
acceptance, swallowing, disruption, expulsion, and grams consumed. This type of data
collection is standard practice in the feeding disorders program. It is hypothesized that
participants who receive DCS as an adjunct to behavioral intervention will show greater
improvement in mealtime behaviors as reflected by these measures.