linermafia.blogg.se - Pica treatment plans

Unfortunately, many individuals are ashamed of their behavior and do not discuss their symptoms with medical professionals unless a severe complication has occurred. There are serious medical complications that can result from Pica including bowel obstruction, toxicity, malnourishment, dental damage, parasitic infestation, and abnormal liver functions. Adults with this disorder tend to recognize the abnormality that is present but are plagued by a continuous compulsion to engage in the behavior.Įven though hospitalizations for other eating disorders have decreased over the last two decades, the hospitalization rate for pica has risen. Only recently has Pica been suggested to be linked in some manner to an obsessive-compulsive spectrum. However, if the primary means is a method of weight control, anorexia needs to remain the diagnosis. In anorexia, symptoms of Pica may be attempts to avoid eating caloric foods while still maintaining a feeling of fullness. Pica is also more likely to be present in adults with an intellectual disability, and is more likely to be seen in a co-morbid presentation with obsessive compulsive disorder and autism spectrum disorders. It has been suggested that the higher incidence may be due to an iron deficiency and the eating of nonnutritive substances.

Often, Pica is a childhood diagnosis, but there are adults who struggle also, with pregnant women exhibiting a higher incident.

Must be of severity to warrant additional clinical attention if it is co-occurring with another disorder.

Pica is a disorder characterized by individuals consuming non-nutritive substances such as chalk, clay, dirt, paper, ice, cornstarch, and other non-nutritive substances. The name Pica was derived from the Latin word for magpie, a bird that is notorious for eating almost anything. But with the 2013 DSM-5 publication, the American Psychiatric Association determined it fit better in the “Feeding and Eating Disorders” category. However, Pica is an eating disorder that often gets overlooked, partly because until the publication of the DSM-5, Pica was categorized as a disorder of onset in childhood and adolescence.

Low birth weight, premature birth, mental and physical abnormalities among infants whose mothers practice pica during pregnancy.Typically, when we think of eating disorders, we think of the most common ones such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, or Binge Eating Disorder.

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.