![]() ![]() You may notice the persistent eating of things that are not food or have no nutritional value over a period lasting at least one month."It's really not very common, but when it occurs, it can be bad."įor instance, an inquest was held into the death of Dewi Evans, a 61-year-old man from south Wales who died after surgery to remove a screw, a pen top, a magnet, and some coins from his bowel. O'Brien said 1 to 2 percent of people with learning disabilities suffer from extreme pica. "So, it affects young kids and people with severe learning difficulties." "Pica usually appears in people of a low mental age (how old one feels, acts, and behaves)," said Gregory O'Brien, professor of developmental psychiatry at Northumberland University. Pica syndrome comes from the Latin name for magpie, a bird that is known it eat just about anything. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Debunking Eating Disorder Myths People with pica syndrome, an eating disorder, will have urges to eat soil, coal, rust, chalk, and paper, although people with pica have been known to ingest anything from animal feces to bits of metal. ![]() Here's what you should know about causes and treatments. This national, interactive database allows you to explore treatment options at all levels of care.The cause of pica syndrome is not known, but it might involve mineral deficiency and psychological age. If you are ready to take the next step in your recovery journey, please visit. If you, your child, or any loved one is struggling with Pica, please reach out to the National Alliance for Eating Disorders for resources and support. Medication for co-occurring medical or psychological conditionsĮating Disorder Treatment Teams Levels of Eating Disorder Care Reach Out for HelpĪlthough it may not be as well-known as some other eating disorders, Pica can cause serious health consequences and interfere with a person’s psychosocial functioning.It will be important to correct any vitamin or mineral deficiencies that.A behavioral approach, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).The most common approaches to treating Pica are: Mouth or teeth injuries Types of Pica Treatment.Medical Complications of PicaĮating non-food items can lead to different medical complications, depending 0n what is being consumed. It also would not be diagnosed if the consumption of such non-food items is part of a culturally supported and/or socially normative practice, such as eating clay for medicinal purposes. It is important to note that Pica is not diagnosed in children younger than 2 years old, as it is considered developmentally appropriate for kids to put things in their mouth up until that age. Low levels of iron or zinc have been linked to PicaĪdditionally, some studies have reported a high prevalence of Pica among children in treatment for sickle cell anemia (Rodrigues, et al., 2019) and another one showed high rates among school-aged children in Africa (van Hoeken, et al., 2016).While there is not one known cause for the development of Pica, some individuals may be more at risk, including those with: ![]() However, Pica can affect anyone, of any age, gender, race, ethnicity, wealth, job status, sexual orientation, ability, neurodiversity, or body shape and size. In fact, studies estimate that less than 10% of children in the United States older than 12 years of age meet diagnostic criteria for Pica (Moline, et al., 2021). Pica is considered to be a relatively rare disorder but is most commonly seen in pregnant individuals and young children. These items can include, but are not limited to: According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Pica can be defined as a feeding or eating disorder that involves eating non-nutritive, non-food substances. ![]() The word “pica” is Latin for magpie-a bird known for eating almost anything. ![]()
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