Pica - Anatomy of Psych

What is pica?

Pica is an eating disorder characterized by the eating of one or more non-nutritive, non-food substances on a persistent basis over a period of at least one month. Its prevalence is unknown, but it is more common in individuals with severe intellectual disability.

What does pica look like?

Signs & Symptoms

DSM-5 Criteria

Criterion A. Persistent eating of non-nutritive, non-food substances over a period of at least 1 month.

Criterion B. The eating of non-nutritive, non-food substances is inappropriate to the developmental level of the individual.

Criterion C. The eating behaviour is not part of a culturally supported or socially normative practice.

Criterion D. If the eating behaviour occurs in the context of another mental disorder (e.g. intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia) or medical condition (including pregnancy), it is sufficiently severe to warrant additional clinical attention.

Risk Factors

Neglect
Lack of guardian supervision
Intellectual disability

Differential Diagnosis

Anorexia nervosa
Factitious disorder
Non-suicidal self injury

References

[1] American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA.

[2] Boyd, M. A. (2019). Psychiatric & mental health nursing for Canadian practice. Wolters Kluwer.

[3] Townsend, M. C. (2015). Psychiatric mental health nursing. F.A. Davis.