pica and Mental-Disorders

Pica is the compulsive eating of non-nutritive substances. It is often associated with iron deficiency but its pathophysiology is unknown. Areas covered: We searched the literature using the keywords listed below. Our aim was to describe the phenomenon in its various aspects, to touch briefly on the historical and cultural background, and to examine in more detail the studies that tried to analyze the relative roles of iron deficiency and pica. Expert commentary: Pica is an intriguing symptom known for centuries. Pregnant women and preadolescents are at the highest risk of pica. Iron absorption is reduced in the presence of non-nutritive substances. Iron therapy usually cures the pica behavior. There are different forms of pica, one caused directly by iron deficiency probably due to the lack of iron in some areas of the brain and one more culturally driven and including mostly geophagy.

Topics: Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Female; Humans; Mental Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Phenotype; Pica; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic; Prevalence; Risk Factors

Pica is the collective term for any form of qualitative disorder of eating behaviour. If a patient's deviant appetite is fixated on one special object, there are quite a number of corresponding terms available (e.g. geophagia for eating dirt). Pica, although a ubiquitous phenomenon, shows heightened prevalence in certain high-risk populations, i.e. infants, pregnant women, the mentally retarded, special ethnic groups and psychiatric patients. The author briefly summarizes the medical history of the pica concept and the present state of knowledge concerning aetiology and pathogenesis. The numerous possible complications and various therapeutic approaches are pointed out.

Topics: Ethnicity; Female; Humans; Infant; Intellectual Disability; Mental Disorders; Pica; Pregnancy; Prevalence; Risk Factors

This article reviewed and discussed various methodologies used for the analysis of variables maintaining aberrant behavior. Previous research had succeeded in identifying a wide variety of environmental events which may contribute to an individual's maladaptive responding. These general classes of variables are summarized and presented with relevant examples. We conclude with suggestions for conducting a comprehensive functional analysis using descriptive and experimental methods leading to the development and evaluation of analysis-derived interventions.

Topics: Behavior Therapy; Humans; Intellectual Disability; Mental Disorders; Pica; Self Mutilation; Stereotyped Behavior

Topics: Achievement; Autistic Disorder; Behavior Therapy; Brain Damage, Chronic; Child; Child, Institutionalized; Child, Preschool; Counseling; Family; Humans; Hyperkinesis; Intellectual Disability; Intelligence; Language Disorders; Mental Disorders; Personality; Pica; Play Therapy; Psychotherapy; Psychotic Disorders; Social Isolation; Stereotyped Behavior; Temperament

Topics: Aggression; Animals; Animals, Zoo; Anorexia Nervosa; Anxiety; Behavior, Animal; Carnivora; Catatonia; Conditioning, Classical; Conflict, Psychological; Depression; Dogs; Encopresis; Enuresis; Frustration; Hominidae; Humans; Hyperesthesia; Hyperventilation; Hysteria; Mental Disorders; Motor Activity; Neurotic Disorders; Phobic Disorders; Pica; Psychopathology; Psychotic Disorders; Regression, Psychology; Schizophrenia; Sibling Relations

Topics: Age Factors; Black or African American; Brain Chemistry; Child; Child Behavior Disorders; Child, Preschool; Humans; Infant; Intellectual Disability; Intelligence Tests; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Mental Disorders; Mother-Child Relations; Pica; Population; Research; Socioeconomic Factors

Topics: Foreign Bodies; Humans; Mental Disorders; Pica; Risk Factors; Self-Injurious Behavior

The article shows the description of the seldom met case of simultaneous appearing of numerous foreign bodies situated both in air passages and in the alimentary canal at patient of mentally handicapped with the tendency to swallowing of small objects. After observing by guardians of the patients fact of swallowing metallic foreign bodies by him the specified research were made (X-ray pictures, computer tomography) and the presence in the bronchial tree of both lungs and in the upper and lower section of the alimentary canal were confirmed. Swallowed and aspirated objects did not cause no complaints at the patient. Revealed foreign bodies were removed from air passages by using of the bronchofiberoscopy method and the surgical treatment. Foreign bodies of the alimentary canal were voided by patient through natural tract.

Topics: Bronchi; Digestive System; Foreign Bodies; Humans; Lung; Male; Mental Disorders; Middle Aged; Pica

The paper reports epidemiological and phenomenological investigations of aberrant eating among 347 pre-adolescent children in court-ordered foster and kinship care, in New South Wales, Australia. A quarter of children displayed clinically significant aberrant eating problems, with no evidence of gender or age effects. Two distinct patterns were identified. The first is a pattern of excessive eating and food acquisition and maintenance behaviors without concurrent obesity (termed Food maintenance syndrome), resembling the behavioral correlates of Hyperphagic Short Stature (Psychosocial Dwarfism). Various data suggest this pattern is primarily triggered by acute stress, including maltreatment in care, against a background of complex psychopathology and developmental disabilities. The second is a cluster of pica-type eating behaviors that correlates with self-injurious behavior, and is closely associated with developmental disabilities. The paper includes recommendations for clinicians working with pre-adolescent children in care.

Topics: Child; Comorbidity; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Female; Foster Home Care; Humans; Hyperphagia; Male; Mental Disorders; Models, Psychological; New South Wales; Pica; Prevalence; Risk Factors

Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Intestinal Obstruction; Male; Mental Disorders; Pica

This article offers a means of defining and classifying various types of pica, and puts forward possible aetiological explanations for how pica may arise. When considering the question of treatment the aetiology of the disorder may be of fundamental importance.

Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Down Syndrome; Female; Habits; Humans; Infant; Mental Disorders; Pica; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Social Conditions

It has been known for several thousand years that concretions of animal and vegetable matter form in the stomachs and intestines of certain animals. These objects are known as bezoars. The finding of such curiosities in man is also recognised but is rare. A short history of bezoars is given and a case of a giant trichobezoar reported. The medical, surgical and psychiatric aspects are discussed.

Topics: Adolescent; Bezoars; Child; Female; Hair; Humans; Menstruation Disturbances; Mental Disorders; Pica; Radiography; Stomach; Ultrasonography