Pica: Causes And Treatment

What Causes Pica?

The underlying reasons due to which a person develops the eating disorder pica is as individual as the non-food items patients crave. Pica is more common in children and pregnant women, those people with developmental disorders such as autism, and among certain ethnic groups.

The DSM-5 says that the compulsive eating of non-food items can't be part of a culturally accepted practice for a pica diagnosis to be made, but that doesn't make these habits any less harmful. Kenya is home to a type of soft stone called "odowa" that is apparently quite addictive, for example. Kenyans eating these stones cannot be diagnosed with pica, but might still benefit from treatment. 

Pica can also directly result from mental illnesses — people suffering from schizophrenia may hear voices telling them to ingest dangerous items, to name one example. In addition, the Handbook of Clinical Child Psychology suggests that between four and 26 percent of institutionalized child patients have pica. 

There is evidence to suggest that pica can result from nutritional deficiencies, particularly iron deficiency. This may also explain why this disorder is seen in pregnant women more often. Whatever the cause of pica, treating the disorder is likely to be your main concern if you or someone you love is suffering from strange food compulsions. 

Treating Pica

The treatment of pica is acknowledged as complex by anyone who has studied the disorder. In people who are already under medical supervision, ensuring the patient avoids the foods they crave is the best approach, and this is often achieved by watching them closely. The same holds true for children with pica, who are under the care of their parents — these moms and dads need to watch their kids closely to make sure they only eat appropriate things.

Behavioral therapies are sometimes helpful to people who have pica. Adults who do not suffer from developmental disorders but have strange cravings should probably be checked for nutritional deficiencies and then work with a therapist to develop strategies to stay away from the non-food items they crave. It may be useful to see pica as an addiction and to learn about steps people who quit smoking or gambling take to overcome their challenges, and you could even join a support group for addicts.