According to the DSM-5 criteria, to be diagnosed as having Rumination Disorder a person must display:
- Repeated regurgitation of food for a period of at least one month Regurgitated food may be re-chewed, re-swallowed, or spit out.
- The repeated regurgitation is not due to a medication condition (e.g. gastrointestinal condition).
- The behaviour does not occur exclusively in the course of Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, BED, or Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake disorder.
- If occurring in the presence of another mental disorder (e.g. intellectual developmental disorder), it is severe enough to warrant independent clinical attention.