However, we do know that there is no one single cause of pica syndrome rather, it’s likely caused by a multitude of different factors. Unfortunately, the causes of pica are not well-understood. There are many other psychological problems that are associated with pica eating and pica syndrome. Bacteria or parasites from dirt or other objects can cause serious infections.Eating objects that cannot be digested can cause constipation or blockages in the digestive tract, as well as tears in the lining of the esophagus or intestines.Eating non-food objects can interfere with eating healthy, nutrient rich foods, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies (e.g., iron deficiency).Certain items, such as paint chips, may contain lead or other toxic substances and eating them can lead to poisoning, increasing the child’s risk of complications including learning disabilities and brain damage.In Handbook of DSM-5 Disorders in Children and Adolescents (pp. There are a whole range of different medical and psychological complications associated with pica eating and pica syndrome 7 Hartmann, A. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 48(2), 238-248. Pica and rumination behavior among individuals seeking treatment for eating disorders or obesity. Only 1.3% of people seeking treatment for an eating disorder exhibit pica-like behaviors 6 Delaney, C.Pica practices of pregnant women are associated with lower maternal hemoglobin level at delivery 5 J Am Diet Assoc. pregnant women may engage in pica eating Rainville AJ. Kaplan and Sadock’s Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry (9th ed.). “Chapter 44: Feeding and eating disorders of infancy and early childhood”. In institutionalized children with mental retardation, pica occurs in 10–33% 4 Chatoor, I (2009).Around 25% of adults with an intellectual disability suffered from pica 3 Danford DE, Huber AM (1982).International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. “A meta-analysis of the worldwide prevalence of pica during pregnancy and the postpartum period”. Pica is most prevalent geographically in Africa, with an estimated prevalence of 44.8%, followed by North and South America (23.0%) and Eurasia (17.5%) 2 Fawcett, Emily J.Rates of pica varies widely across diverse social and clinical contexts and appears to be higher among select populations that include pregnant women, children, and adults with iron deficiencies.Īlthough it is very difficult to obtain accurate data on the prevalence of pica, some key statistics include: For people who currently have a medical condition (e.g., pregnancy) or a mental disorder (e.g., autism spectrum disorder) the action of eating non-nutritive non-foods should only be considered pica if it is dangerous and requires extra medical investigation on top of what they are already receiving for their pre-existing condition.Generally, those with pica are not averse to ingesting food.In order to exclude developmentally normal mouthing, children under two years of age should not be diagnosed with pica. Mouthing may sometimes result in ingestion. In children under two years of age, mouthing objects-or putting small objects in their mouth-is a normal part of development, allowing the child to explore their senses. The eating of these substances must be developmentally inappropriate.Eating these substances cannot be associated with a cultural practice that is considered normal in the social context of the individual (e.g., some cultures promote eating clay as part of a medicinal practice).Over a time-frame of at least one month, there is a persistent eating of substances that are not food and do not provide nutritional value.Let’s take a closer look at the specific signs and symptoms of pica syndrome Pica was officially recognized in the “Feeding and Eating Disorders” category in the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel for Mental Disorders. Items that are commonly eaten among people with pica syndrome include: Virginia: American Psychiatric Association. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.: DSM 5. Pica disorder – an eating disorder most commonly observed in children – describes eating items that are not typically thought of as food and that do not contain any noticeable nutritional value 1 American Psychiatric Association. When you hear the words “feeding and eating disorders”, it’s highly likely that you automatically think about anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge-eating disorder.Īnother feeding and eating disorder that’s less commonly spoken about – but is equally important – is pica syndrome.
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