Pediatric Behavioral Health
Resources, LLC
103 Hwy 13 South
Waverly, TN 37185
www.pediatricbehavior.com
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Pica
Pica is a form of
Feeding and Eating Disorders that involves eating one or more
non-nutritious substances on a continued basis over a period of at
least one month.
Young children may eat sand, bugs, paint, paper or other items
within reach. Adolescents and adults may eat clay, soil, paper, or
other substance.
Pica is often found in children with Mental Retardation or
Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
Sometimes Pica is caused from a vitamin or mineral deficiency,
but typically this is not the case.
According to the DSM-IV manual, Pica includes the following
symptoms:
- Persistent eating of nonnutritional substances for a period of
at least one month.
- The eating of nonnutritive substances is inappropriate to the
developmental level.
- The eating behavior is not part of a culturally sanctioned
practice.
- If the eating behavior occurs exclusively during the course of
another mental disorder (e.g., Mental Retardation, Pervasive
Developmental Disorder, or Schizophrenia), it is sufficiently
severe to warrant independent clinical attention.
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