![]() ![]() Persistent eating of non-nutritive substances for a period of at least 1 month. The Diagnostic Criteria for Pica from DSM 5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) states that pica is: Health professionals who can diagnose pica include paediatricians, gastroenterologists, psychiatrists and/or clinical psychologists. Getting a diagnosis of pica can be the first step towards effective management, not least because early intervention may prevent harm and the need for more complex treatments further down the line. It is written again in collaboration with James’ family and aims to bring together evidence from research, clinical practice and strategies that families develop themselves.īy doing so, we hope to continue to highlight the dangers of pica behaviour and to provide support to those currently managing what is still a poorly understood, socially stigmatising and potentially lethal condition. In this second article we will concentrate on what is known about interventions or treatments for pica, particularly for autistic people. Such severe pica is relatively rare but the consequences for the person who engages in it and their family and friends can be devastating, as it was for James and his family, whose tragic story we told in our corresponding article on this subject. Very tragically, his pica behaviour was a factor in his untimely death at the age of 21. The reason for this was the huge variety of items he would eat, such as conifer leaves and other plant material, his long history of engaging in pica and his compulsion to obtain his preferred items. James’s pica was recognised as being severe. As a result, despite the best efforts of those around him, it proved impossible to completely stop James from engaging in pica. This was often when he would grab something and run off with it. His family went to great lengths to keep him safe, however he was very fast, fit and active and always appeared to know when his carers were distracted or had relaxed. In his family’s words, caring for James was a great privilege but also a challenge. James Frankish was autistic and had a learning disability and severe pica (the eating of non-foods). Dr Shea also offers some advice on supporting autistic people with pica. Gift Aid and making your donation go furtherĭr Liz Shea from the Birmingham Food Refusal Clinic discusses pica (the eating of non foods) and highlights the story of James Frankish who sadly died from issues related to the condition. How your employee donations make a difference Our patron, president and vice presidents Low birth weight, premature birth, mental and physical abnormalities among infants whose mothers practice pica during pregnancy.Adult residential and supported living service vacancies.High blood pressure, high levels of sodium salts in the blood, and abnormal liver functions such as those resulting from consuming large quantities of baking powder.Infestations of parasites such as tapeworms resulting from consuming dirt or feces.Damage to teeth and gums from chewing abrasive materials such as twigs or metals.Nutritional deficiencies, such as the interference of soil with the absorption of iron, zinc, and potassium in the digestive system.Inadequate protein or energy-intake from consuming things like coffee grounds or oyster shells in place of real food.Obesity from consuming too many calories, such as eating laundry starch.Obstruction of the bowel or airways from consuming or choking on indigestible materials such as hair.Poisoning, such as lead poisoning from eating chips of old paint or soil that has old paint in it.If pica is a result of stress, treatment may involve talk therapy or family therapy and the development of coping skills, such as learning stress-reduction techniques or finding a safe substance to chew on instead. If pica is a result of inadequate supervision, treatment may involve educating the family and teaching children to distinguish between food and non-food items, and addressing housing and economic needs if possible. Doctors may treat the medical problems first, assess potential causes of the disorder such as nutrient deficiencies, and then develop a treatment plan that may involve changes to diet and nutrition as well as therapy. Treatment for pica varies based on what substance the person has consumed and how it has affected the body. Therefore, it’s important to monitor and treat the condition as early as possible. However, it may also lead to medical complications such as intestinal obstruction, bowel problems, weight loss, broken teeth, infections, or poisoning. ![]()
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