It has also been part of religious ceremonies, magical beliefs and attempts to cure. In many cultures the ingestion of clay is used for its medicinal properties, in some instances to affect the microorganisms in the intestine or to help relieve internal spasms. In some modern cultures pica behavior still occurs in a ritualistic way. In the IXX century in the southern United States, this behavior was common among slaves and this practice is still accepted in some cultures. The term “pica” comes from the Latin word that means “magpie”, which refers to the strange behavior of the feeding habits of this bird. The magpie does not show a preference for food or non-food substances. Individuals suffering from this disorder often eat substances such as dirt, paper, chalk, feces, glass, paper, among other non-food items. If you suffer from an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or an impulsive disorder, you are more likely to suffer from a related pica disorder. However, like individuals who suffer from OCD, people who have pica are often aware of their behavior despite being unhealthy and illogical behaviors. Pica TreatmentĪdults who have pica syndrome often have intellectual disabilities. The disorder is also associated with people who have a nutritional deficiency, such as a lack of iron, and with pregnant women or individuals with other mental illnesses. Within the medical profession, eating disorders are clinically defined and diagnosed according to specific diagnostic criteria. This act is considered inappropriate for the level of development and is usually associated with young children. When it occurs in children who are older than five years old, it may be indicative of age-inappropriate behavior.Įating disorders are very varied and affect a large part of the population. Many people lose years of their lives and these disorders can even be deadly. The pica is an eating disorder characterized by the ingestion of food substances without nutritional value of persistent and compulsively.

Pica syndrome symptoms