Pica, Eating Objects that do not Have Any Nutritional Value - Research Paper Example

Pica Introduction A fundamental aspect of life is the ability of the body to ingest foreign substances. The ingestion of these foreign substances is followed by the absorption and the conversion of the substances to sources of energy. Babies are born with an ability to differentiate between tastes. However, some of the babies may have an inability to differentiate between non-food and food items. The phenomenon of Pica is defined as the repeated action of eating objects that do not have any nutritive value (Carter and Wheeler 346). This phenomenon is characterized by an insatiable appetite for non-nutritive objects. People affected by this condition have a craving for chalk, clay, sand and dirt among other objects. The definition of Pica is based on the DSM-IV criteria. The DSM-IV criteria states that for the actions to be considered as Pica, they must persist for at least a month, during an age which eating non-nutritive objects is considered developmentally inappropriate. Pica is a common condition among children and women. It is commonly seen in small children and pregnant women, in addition to people with development disabilities (Young 19). Pica predisposes a person to dangerous substances and brain damage. For instance, a child eating painted plaster that contains lead is predisposed to lead poisoning, which may lead to brain damage. Diagnosis The DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for pica specify a differentiation which is based on cultural variations. Diagnosis using the DSM-IV criteria is dependent on a number of signs and symptoms. According to the criteria, people are considered to have pica in case they persistently eat non-nutritive substances for periods that extend one month. Additionally, the individual should not meet the criteria for schizophrenia, autism or Kleine-Levin syndrome (Carter and Wheeler 350). The criteria also states that the behavior should not be culturally sanctioned. The eating behavior should occur exclusively in the course of a different mental disorder. Symptoms Approximately 25-30 percent of children have pica. Most children outgrow the condition by the time they are three years old. In case a child is developing and growing normally, then the condition is more of a habit than an obsessive compulsive disorder (Young 27). It is associated with disorders such as autism, mental retardation and developmental disabilities. It may also surface in children who have had a brain injury, which affects their development. The main symptoms for pica include consistent eating of Non-food items for a period that exceeds one month. The child continues to eat non-food items even when they are beyond 18-24 months old. people with pica crave and consume items such as paint chips, plaster, clay, dirt, ice, baking soda, laundry starch, cornstarch, chalk, cigarette butts and ashes, and coffee grounds (Carter and Wheeler 348). Though the consumption of these items may be harmless, pica is a serious eating disorder that may lead to serious health problems such as iron deficiency anemia and lead poisoning. The most common symptom of pica is the consumption of ice, which has devastating effects on the maintenance of the body. The consumption of ice predisposes an individual to tooth cracking, jaw joint strain and the deterioration of enamel. The consumption of ice has negative impacts on the digestive tract because it causes peristalsis to move slowly. It may also cause peristalsis to temporarily stop. As a result, weight gain becomes easy, and weight loss is adversely affected (Young 31). The consumption of paint chip causes chemical imbalance and iron deficiency in the body of the child. People with pica have intestinal complications, particularly intestinal obstructions. It is also linked with mental disorders. Additionally, stressors such as family issues, maternal deprivation, parental neglect and poverty are linked to pica. Causes Pica is caused by a number of factors. In most of the cases, zinc and iron deficiencies, in addition to other nutrient deficiencies may cause pica. In case of these deficiencies, the body attempts to replace the nutritive requirements with non-food substances. According to CDC (2013), pica is a form of a specific appetite, which is caused by the deficiency of a number of minerals (Carter and Wheeler 349). In most of the cases, the non-food item that is eaten by a person with pica contains the mineral which the person is lacking. In pregnant women, iron deficiency is the main cause of pica. People with mental disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder and schizophrenia develop the eating disorder as a coping mechanism. In some of the instances, people crave and enjoy the flavors and textures of different non-food items. Malnourishment and dieting also lead to pica. Sensory, psychological, cultural and physiological factors may lead to pica (Mash and David 31). A number of mental health disorders lead to pica. It can also be caused by cultural practices. For instance, the ingestion of kaolin among African Americans in Georgia is an indication that pica is form of a cultural bound syndrome. Treatment The treatment of pica was usually based on recommendations that sought to prevent people from eating non-food substances. Currently, the treatment of pica is based on the evolution of the treatment methods. CDC (2013) notes that the use of verbal reprimands and physical restraints was an effective treatment strategy for the treatment of pica in children aged 6 years (Carter and Wheeler 352). Recent procedures for the treatment of pica include medical, behavioral and cognitive models. The medical model for the treatment of pica is demonstrated using medical interventions that are designed to intervene for associated conditions. In this case, pica disappeared in an 11 years old boy following treatment of lead poisoning and hyper somnolence with chelation and methylphenidate therapy. Additionally, the use of multi-vitamin Polyvisol as an independent variable was successful in the reduction of latency to pica in a 9 year old girl who was diagnosed with severe iron deficiency, anemia and mental retardation (Reel 29). Treatment may also involve the use of cognitive behavioral and medical approaches. For instance, it may involve differential reinforcement for the consumption of vitamin C. In this case reinforcement involves persuasion, encouragement and constant supply of vitamin C. This should be accompanied with the provision of a confrontation and stress free environment. The cognitive model for the treatment of pica incorporates a cognitive etiological model. Cognitive treatment models are used because anxiety and frustration are associated with pica. Self-monitoring and progressive relaxation are effective strategies in the treatment of pica in people who have normal intelligence. Self-monitoring and progressive relaxation have better long term effects and effectiveness because of the skills learnt in the reduction of anxiety, which is an associated feature of pica. Behavioral treatment models are also effective in the treatment of pica (Reel 54). Vitamin supplementation, punishment, multiple component treatment packages and the use of protective equipments are some of the behavioral approaches that can be used to treat pica. Additionally, response blocking and redirection are effective in the treatment of pica. It is vital to note that the treatment of pica varies by patient and suspected cause of the condition. Treatment should emphasize on environmental, psychological and family-guidance approaches. In case an individual has iron deficiency, it is important for the individual to receive iron supplementation in order to avoid pica. Initial treatment approaches for pica involve screening and treating any mineral deficiencies. Therapy and medication using SSRIs is effective in the treatment of psychotic etiology pica (Tasman, Jeffrey, Michael and Mario 44). Behavioral based treatment models are useful in the treatment of mentally ill and developmentally disabled people with pica. The treatment method used in this case is the use of positive reinforcement. Additionally, aversion therapy can be used where the individual learns to differentiate food and non-food items through positive reinforcement. Conclusion Pica can be considered as an eating disorder because it compels people to eat items that do not have any nutritional value. Affected people show a craving for items such as ice, dirt, clay and painted chips and plastics. The disorder has the potential to cause serious medical conditions such as lead poisoning and iron deficiency. Pica is a condition that is common among pregnant women and children. In most of the cases, it is a temporary condition because children outgrow the behavior. Pica is caused by different factors that range from mental medical conditions, mineral deficiencies in the body and psychological factors to physiological and social factors. The treatment of pica is dependent on the cause of the condition and the state of the patient. Approaches such as behavioral and cognitive models can be used in the treatment of pica. Work Cited Carter, Stacy and Wheeler, John. Pica: A Review of Recent Assessment and Treatment Procedures. Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities. Vol. 39, (4). 2013. Page 346-358. Mash, Eric J, and David A. Wolfe. Abnormal Child Psychology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth CENGAGE Learning, 2010. Print. Reel, Justine J. Eating Disorders: An Encyclopedia of Causes, Treatment, and Prevention. , 2013. Print. Tasman, Allan, J. Kay, Jeffrey A. Lieberman, Michael B. First and Mario Maj. Psychiatry. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. Internet resource. Young, Sera L. Craving Earth: Understanding Pica : the Urge to Eat Clay, Starch, Ice, and Chalk. New York: Columbia University Press, 2011. Print. Read More