These conditions are not characterized by iron deficiency, which supports a psychological component in the cause of pica.Ĭultural and religious traditions may also play a role in pica behavior. These diagnoses include psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia, developmental disorders including autism, and conditions with mental retardation. Pica has a higher incidence in populations with an underlying diagnosis involving mental functioning. Other reports suggest that pica may have a psychological basis and may even fall into the spectrum of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Such findings offer strong support of iron deficiency as a cause, rather than result, of pica. In addition, low blood levels of iron commonly occur in pregnant women and those with poor nutrition, two populations at higher risk for pica. Another study looked specifically at the rate of iron absorption during pica conditions and normal dietary behavior, and showed that the iron absorption was not decreased by pica.
However, some studies have shown that pica cravings in individuals with iron deficiency stop once iron supplements are given to correct the deficiency. Because some substances, such as clay, are believed to block the absorption of iron into the bloodstream, it was thought that low blood levels of iron could be the direct result of pica. Several reports have described pica in individuals with documented iron deficiency, although there has been uncertainty as to whether the iron deficiency was a cause of pica or a result of it. One widely held theory points to iron deficiency as a major cause of pica. certain cultural or religious traditionsĮvidence suggests that there may be several causes of pica.poor nutrition or low blood levels of iron and other minerals.developmental delay and mental retardation.
#Pica disorder length to diagnosis skin
Eating the skin patch increased the patient's dose of the drug by a factor of 10.Īlthough pica can occur in individuals of any background, a higher incidence of pica is associated with: In one unusual case, the patient ingested transdermal patches of fentanyl, an opioid medication given for severe pain. However, pica involving dozens of other substances, including cigarette butts and ashes, hair, paint chips, and paper have also been reported. Some of the most commonly described types of pica are eating earth, soil or clay (geophagia), ice (pagophagia) and starch (amylophagia).
Pica in humans has many different subgroups, defined by the substance that is ingested. In addition to humans, pica has been observed in other animals, including the chimpanzee. The word pica comes from the Latin name for magpie, a bird known for its unusual and indiscriminate eating habits.
Pica has been observed in ethnic groups worldwide, in both primitive and modernized cultures, in both sexes, and in all age groups. The puzzling phenomenon of pica has been recognized and described since ancient times.
#Pica disorder length to diagnosis manual
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, classifies it as a feeding and eating disorder of childhood. Pica is the persistent craving and compulsive eating of nonfood substances.
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