Stimulus control of anticipatory nausea in cancer chemotherapy.

A single subject ABA design was used to evaluate the effect of a stimulus manipulation on anticipatory nausea. A lemon solution was orally administered to a 61-year-old female oncology patient in order to mask taste sensations thought to function as a conditioned stimulus eliciting anticipatory symptoms during chemotherapy. A decrease in anticipatory symptoms was observed with the introduction of the taste masking agent and was maintained following withdrawal of the agent.