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. We welcome your feedback on our information resources.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. Last reviewed: December 2020 Next review date: December 2023 Version 2.0 Sources used to create this information are available by contacting Beat. Physical illness as a result of eating harmful substances.Eating substances that aren’t supposed to be eaten.Craving to consume substances that aren’t supposed to be eaten.It may be necessary to contact the emergency services. If you or someone you know has eaten something that isn’t supposed to be eaten, you should seek medical help immediately. Some of the items that people may feel an urge to eat because of pica can be extremely harmful. Obsessive-compulsive disorder and related disorders such as trichotillomania (hair-pulling) and excoriation disorder (skin-picking).Nonetheless, it may be more likely to occur alongside: The percentage of people who have it is not yet known, as different researchers may use different definitions of pica, leading to some confusion. In some cases, people with pica have been found to be deficient in certain minerals or vitamins, but this is often not the case. The reasons that people develop pica are not yet clear, although several scientists have linked it to the nervous system, and have understood it as a learned behaviour or coping mechanism. If you’re concerned about yourself or someone else, you should visit your doctor as quickly as possible so that they can refer you for appropriate treatment. However, some non-food items that they consume can be very dangerous, especially if eaten in large quantities. People with pica don’t usually avoid regular food, meaning they may still be getting all the nutrients they need. In cases where it is this other illness that has caused the behaviour related to pica, a separate diagnosis of pica would be made only if it is serious enough to need clinical attention beyond that already being provided for the other illness. It can occur alongside other illnesses, including other eating disorders. Pica affects people of all genders and ages, though it is more likely to first appear among children. Often, pica is not revealed until medical consequences occur, such as metal toxicity, cracked teeth, or infections. For a diagnosis of pica, the behaviour must be present for at least one month, not part of a cultural practice, and developmentally inappropriate – generally, it’s not diagnosed in children under the age of two, as it is common for babies to “mouth” objects, which can lead to them accidentally eating substances that aren’t meant to be eaten. Pica is a feeding disorder in which someone eats non-food substances that have no nutritional value, such as paper, soap, paint, chalk, or ice.
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