| Pica is most common in people with | | | | Nutritional deficiencies. |
| developmental disabilities, including autism | | | | |
| and mental retardation. Pica may also occur | | | | Cultural and familial factors. |
| in adults who crave a certain texture in | | | | |
| their mouth. The causes of pica of | | | | Stress. |
| biochemical deficiency and more often iron | | | | |
| deficiency. Iron deficiency (or | | | | Low socioeconomic status |
| "sideropenia") is the most common known form | | | | |
| of nutritional deficiency, such as iron or | | | | Nondiscriminating oral behavior. |
| zinc, that may trigger specific cravings. | | | | |
| Cultural and familial factors- Clay or soil | | | | Underlying biochemical disorder. |
| and the ingestion of starch may be culturally | | | | |
| based and is regarded as acceptable by | | | | Signs and Symptoms of Pica |
| various social groups. Clay eating and starch | | | | |
| eating are seen in the United States in some | | | | Sign and symptoms of Pica |
| southern, rural, African American | | | | |
| communities, primarily among women and | | | | Nonnutritive substances for a period of at |
| children. Starch eating, in particular, is | | | | least 1 month. |
| frequently started in pregnancy as a | | | | |
| treatment of morning sickness and is seen | | | | Nonnutritive substances is inappropriate to |
| most often in pregnant and postpartum | | | | the developmental level. |
| females. Learned behavior-In individuals with | | | | |
| mental retardation and developmental | | | | Culturally sanctioned practice. |
| disabilities in particular, the traditional | | | | |
| view is that the occurrence of pica is a | | | | Treatment of Pica |
| learned behavior maintained by the | | | | |
| consequences of that behavior. Maternal | | | | Common Treatment of Pica |
| deprivation, parental separation, parental | | | | |
| neglect, child abuse, and insufficient | | | | Treatment emphasizes psychosocial, |
| amounts of parent/child interactions have | | | | environmental, and family guidance |
| been associated with pica. Treatment options | | | | approaches. |
| include: discrimination training between | | | | |
| edible and nonedible items, self-protection | | | | Other successful treatments include mild |
| devices that prohibit placement of objects in | | | | aversion therapy (associating the pica |
| the mouth, sensory reinforcement involving | | | | behavior with bad consequences or punishment) |
| screening (covering eyes briefly), contingent | | | | followed by positive reinforcement for |
| aversive oral taste (lemon), contingent | | | | appropriate eating. |
| aversive smell sensation (ammonia), | | | | |
| contingent aversive physical sensation (water | | | | Medications may help reduce the abnormal |
| mist), brief physical restraint, and | | | | eating behavior, if pica occurs in the course |
| overcorrection (correct the environment, or | | | | of a developmental disorder such as mental |
| practice appropriate alternative responses). | | | | retardation or pervasive developmental |
| | | | disorder. |
| Causes of Picacommon causes and risk factors | | | | |
| of Pica | | | | Juliet Cohen writes articles on diseases and |
| | | | conditions and skin disorders. |