The DSM-IV classifies pica in the category of ‘Not Otherwise Specified’ disorders and defines it as the indiscriminate eating of none nutrient substances. The DSM-IV further states that pica presents the desire to consume nonfood staff such as earth, ice, chalk and so forth (Wakefield & First, 2003). Another study reveals that the word pica originates from the Latin name for magpie bird pica pica, which is known an usual and indiscriminate eating habits (Rose, Porcerelli, & Neale, 2000). In the same way, people with pica show indiscriminate eating disorders towards nonfood substances. On the same note, several psychologists have come up with different types of pica. For example, some of the most commonly shown types of pica include geophagia, which refers to a fondness for eating soil, clay or earth. Pagophagia is when a person likes eating too much ice while Amylophagia is the indiscriminate eating of starch (Rose, Porcerelli, & Neale, 2000).
Similarly, the study by Wakefield and First (2003) states that pica is a disorder that is common in people of all ages. However, it is mostly found in pregnant women and young children below the age of five years. The authors report that pica has increased by 93% among outpatients since the year 2000. The study further reveals that even though the condition can occur in people of all ages, backgrounds, race and religions, higher cases are reported among people with autism and psychiatric diseases, mental retardation, and developmental delays, and in most early childhood cases (Wakefield & First, 2003). Similarly, the study reports that the conditions is common among young children than adults and that 1 in every 6 or between 10% to 32 % of children have the condition. On the same note, the studies state that the main cause of pica is not yet well known. However, there are hypotheses that state that the condition occurs due to deficiencies in iron, vitamins, and certain cultural and religious beliefs that make people believe that consuming some nonfood substances is religious or good for one’s health may also lead to pica.
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Similarly, some studies state that pica may have a psychological foundation and may be classified among the obsessive-compulsive disorders because the people with the conditions usually feel compelled to consume large amounts of nonfood substances (Rose, Porcerelli, & Neale, 2000). What is worse is that aside from the known groups of pica, some adults and children may feel compelled to eat substances such as cigarette butts, pain chips, hair and paper among others. The psychological relations of the disorder include schizophrenia, developmental disorders, and autism among other mental illnesses that affect both children and adults.
A research study has shown that most of the pica cases seen by doctors in western countries are cases of an underlying medical condition (Rose, Porcerelli, & Neale, 2000). The study reports that 50% of the people suffering from an iron deficiency hence the proposition that pica is a disorder whose sufferers lack iron in their bodies (Rose, Porcerelli, & Neale, 2000).
On the same note, studies show that pica has treatment and the type of treatment will depend on the type and the cause of the condition. For example, if it is established that if the condition is caused by a deficient of a nutrient such as iron or vitamin, then the patient will be put on the necessary supplements to boost the said nutrients. On the same note, overdependence on harmful substances such as lead would lead to an even worse health issue that requires additional medical attentions. Similarly, people who eat corrosive substances may suffer bowel perforation that might also require extra medical attention, some of which may require minor operating and long-term treatment. The psychological issue that leads to the development of pica can be treated using effective approaches such as counseling.
References
Rose, E., Porcerelli, J., & Neale, A. (2000). Pica: Common but Commonly Missed. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.Vol 13 Issue No 5 , 353-358.
Wakefield, J., & First, M. (2003). Placing symptoms in context: the role of contextual criteria in reducing false positives in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnoses. Journal of Comprehensive Psychiatry, Volume 53, Issue 2, , 130-139.
