Treatment for pica may differ depending on the patient and the suspected cause (for example, whether the patient is a child, developmentally disabled, pregnant, or psychogenic) and may focus on psychosocial, environmental, and family-guided approaches iron deficiency may be treated with an iron supplement or dietary changes. The youngster may exhibit different aberrant behaviors in these situations, such as weird language use, strange play, or problems interacting with classmates. When lead poisoning and dietary deficiencies are ruled out, mental distress is the most likely cause of pica. A movement has emerged to examine OCD as the cause of pica due to cases of pica being linked more recently to the obsessive-compulsive spectrum. In addition, in comparison to the general population, anemia or low hemoglobin may be more common in youngsters and pregnant women. The practice of geophagy is more frequently linked to anemia or low hemoglobin, and anemia is more strongly linked to pagophagy and amylophagy. Geophagists, Pagophagists, and Amylophagists (those who eat earth, ice, or starches) are more likely to be anemic, have low hemoglobin concentrations, have fewer red blood cells (hematocrit), or have lower plasma zinc concentrations. The DSM-5 states that biological abnormalities are rarely discovered, but mineral deficits are occasionally linked to pica. Pets like dogs and cats are also known to have pica. Pica is a coping mechanism significantly connected to stressors like emotional trauma, maternal deprivation, family problems, parental neglect, pregnancy, and a dysfunctional family structure. Other emotional and mental illnesses have been connected to pica.
It is impossible to link using these substances to a cultural practice accepted in the individual's social environment.Įating non-nutritive nonfoods should only be regarded as pica for people who already have a mental disorder (such as autism spectrum disorder) or are pregnant and if doing so poses a risk and necessitates additional medical testing or treatment beyond what they are already receiving for their pre-existing condition.Ĭhildren's physical and mental development may be hampered by intoxication caused by pica, and it may also result in less obvious symptoms like dietary deficits, parasitosis, and surgical emergencies to treat intestinal blockages. Given the person's developmental stage, this eating pattern is considered abnormal. The person must have ingested innutritious nonfoods for at least one month.
In a nutshell, the DSM-5 posits four criteria that must be met for a person to be diagnosed with pica: People who have pica may ingest nonfood, and some of the most common cravings include-ĭiagnostic Criteria and Symptomatology of PicaĪccording to the DSM-5 criteria, the odd eating behaviors must persist for over a month at a time when eating these items is seen as developmentally inappropriate, not deemed culturally accepted, and severe enough to require clinical attention. The name "pica" comes from the Latin word for "magpie" (picave), a bird renowned for its peculiar feeding habits and willingness to consume nearly anything. It is characterized by a craving for non-nutritive materials such as ice, soap, hair, paper, metal, dirt, stones, glass, or chalk. Pica is a psychological disorder categorized as a distinct form of eating disorder by the DSM 5. While we may ponder if it is concerning, as it is common in the case of many children, when individuals engage in such eating behavior at a developmentally inappropriate age, it becomes a clinical concern that requires immediate attention.
However, sometimes individuals may ingest nonfood items or objects such as rubber, stone, hair, dirt, etc., that have no nutritional value.
Clinical cases where individuals engage in binge eating, which is sometimes followed by purging behavior or starving oneself and having an insufficient amount of food due to negative body image issues, are common.
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