1. Presented by: Jennifer Rios, Alyssa Rios, Yaki Alejandre
Pica
Presented by: Jennifer Rios, Alyssa Rios, Yaki Alejandre

2. What is Pica?
Definition: Pica is the persistent craving and compulsive eating of nonfood substances.
For example: bricks, clay, soil, ice, laundry starch
‘PICA’ is derived from the Latin word for Magpie, a species of bird that feeds on whatever it encounters (Aparna, Austin, & Mathew, 2012)

3. Video:

4. Why do people develop pica? What causes it?

5. Etiological Theories Gastrointestinal Distress
Micronutrient Deficiency
Neurological Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorder

6. Who is at risk?
Most common in children, pregnant women, and those with mental or physical disabilities
Children: poor parental supervision, psychosocial stressors like maternal deprivation, parental neglect, represent extra pressures in children prone to intense oral focus of drive satisfaction
Mental disabilities: The psychiatric comorbidity is a determinant of pica due to the perversion of appetite
Pregnant women: certain ethnic groups encourage eating of clay for enhanced fertility or childbearing

7. Diagnosis
Before diagnosis of PICA health professional evaluates for other disorders like developmental disabilities or mental disabilities that cause the behavior.
Requires that the patient is persistently eating non-food substances for at least a month and such behavior is developmentally inappropriate.
Clinical manifestation of iron deficiency anemia
Sequel and not a cause
Often sets the diagnosis

8. Treatment/Intervention
Behavioral intervention
Positive & negative reinforcement
Closer supervision on children
Child-proof homes of hazardous items such as:
Poisonous objects
Sharp objects
Animal feces
Iron supplementation to reverse pica
Therapy sessions with autistic children
Seen to reduce the # of pica attempts by more than 90%

9. Recovery Consequences
Lead poisoning which can lead to increased risk of learning disabilities & brain damage
Certain objects can cause internal injuries
Some can recover very quickly or it can take several years
Depends on the patient
Ex: Disappear after pregnancy
Ex: Take years for autistic child to recover

10. References
Aparna, P., Austin, R., & Mathew, P. (2012). Pica. Indian Journal Of Dental Research, 23(3), doi: /
Autism Speaks. (2015, February 12). Autism and Pica: Study Shows Behavioral Intervention Can Reduce Danger. Retrieved from intervention-can-reduce-danger
Beecroft, N., Bach, L., Tunstall, N., & Howard, R. (1998). An unusual case of pica. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 13,

11. References
Blinder, B. (2008, May 2). An Update on Pica: Prevalence, Contributing Causes, and Treatment. Retrieved from
Chatzimavroudis, G., Christopoulos, P., Atmatzidis, S., Papadakis, G., Nalbanti, P., Papaziogas, B., & ... Atmatzidis, K. (2011). Pica: an uncommon cause of acute abdominal pain in children. Indian Journal Of Pediatrics, 78(7), doi: /s
Chalker, A. E. (2017). The Psychopathology of Pica: Etiology, Assessment, and Treatment. Inquiries Journal, 9(2), 1-2. Retrieved from -assessment -and -treatment

12. Content Take Home Questions
Who’s more prone to developing pica? Why?
Why might someone have pica?
What type of objects can cause complications in the body? What are the complications?