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Pica er átröskun sem fellst í því að einstaklingur þráir að borða eða borðar hluti sem teljast ekki vera matur.

Dæmi eru:

steinar

mold

leikföng

málning

önnur eiturefni

gler

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Aðal einkenni Pica er fyrst og fremst að borða hluti sem er ekki matur.

einkenni í kjölfar Pica eru

lágt járn

hringormasýking

hægðatregða

blýeitrun

hjartsláttartruflanir

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Pica er algengara meðal ungra barna heldur en fullorðna.

Óléttar konur eiga þó stundum til að fá Pica tímabundið á meðan meðgöngu stendur yfir.

Um 27-68% óléttra kvenna greinast með Pica og um 50% ungra barna .

Pica getur farið í burtu án meðferðar en getur líka verið langvarandi hjá þeim sem eru með einhverskonar þroskahömlun.

Pica getur verið mjög hættulegt ef einstaklingur borðar eitthvað sem getur skaðað hann verulega eins og eitur.

þessi átröskun dregur nafn sitt frá fuglategundinni the Eurasian magpie. Fuglategundin er þekkt fyrir að borða furðulega hluti.

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The term psychological disorders is sometimes used to refer to what are more frequently known as mental disorders or psychiatric disorders.

Mental disorders are patterns of behavioral or psychological symptoms that impact multiple areas of life. These disorders create distress for the person experiencing the symptoms.

The DSM-5-TR lists hundreds of distinct conditions. Anxiety and depression are among the most common types of mental health conditions that people experience. While the DSM provides diagnostic information about such conditions, including the age at which they typically appear, it does not provide guidelines for treatment or predictions related to the course of illness.

While not a comprehensive list of every mental disorder, the following list includes some of the major categories of disorders described in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and the fifth edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR). The DSM is one of the most widely used systems for classifying mental disorders and provides standardized diagnostic criteria.

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Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Neurodevelopmental disorders are those that are typically diagnosed during infancy, childhood, or adolescence. These psychological disorders include:

Intellectual Development Disorder

Sometimes called intellectual disability, this type of developmental disorder originates prior to the age of 18 and is characterized by limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviors.

Limitations to intellectual functioning are often identified through the use of IQ tests, with an IQ score under 70 often indicating the presence of a limitation. Adaptive behaviors are those that involve practical, everyday skills such as self-care, social interaction, and living skills.

Global Developmental Delay

This diagnosis is for developmental disabilities in children who are under the age of five. Such delays relate to cognition, social functioning, speech, language, and motor skills.

It is generally seen as a temporary diagnosis applying to kids who are still too young to take standardized IQ tests. Once children reach the age where they are able to take a standardized intelligence test, they may be diagnosed with an intellectual development disorder.

Communication Disorders

These disorders are those that impact the ability to use, understand, or detect language and speech. The DSM-5 identifies four different subtypes of communication disorders: language disorder, speech sound disorder, childhood-onset fluency disorder (stuttering), and social (pragmatic) communication disorder.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism is characterized by persistent deficits in social interaction and communication in multiple life areas as well as restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviors.

The DSM specifies that symptoms of autism spectrum disorder must be present during the early developmental period and that these symptoms must cause significant impairment in important areas of life including social and occupational functioning.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is characterized by a persistent pattern of hyperactivity and impulsivity and/or inattention that interferes with functioning and presents itself in two or more settings such as at home, work, school, and social situations.

The DSM-5 specifies that several of the symptoms must have been present prior to the age of 12 and that these symptoms must have a negative impact on social, occupational, or academic functioning.

Bipolar and Related Disorders

Bipolar disorder is characterized by shifts in mood as well as changes in activity and energy levels. The disorder often involves experiencing shifts between elevated moods and periods of depression. Such elevated moods can be pronounced and are referred to either as mania or hypomania.

Mania is characterized by a distinct period of elevated, expansive, or irritable mood accompanied by increased activity and energy. Periods of mania are sometimes marked by feelings of distraction, irritability, and excessive confidence.

When mania progresses, there is also the possibility of psychotic symptoms such as grandiose delusions and hallucinations. While mania occurs with bipolar I disorder, hypomania is a marker of bipolar II.

Hypomanic episodes are characterized by elevated, expansive, or irritable moods like manic episodes. However, hypomania is less severe and generally shorter in duration than mania.

Depressive Episodes

These episodes are characterized by feelings of a depressed or sad mood along with a lack of interest in activities. They may also involve feelings of guilt, fatigue, and irritability. During a depressive period, people with bipolar disorder may lose interest in activities that they previously enjoyed, experience sleeping difficulties, and even have thoughts of suicide.

Both manic and depressive episodes can be frightening for both the person experiencing these symptoms as well as family, friends, and other loved ones who observe these behaviors and mood shifts. Fortunately, appropriate and effective treatments, which often include both medications and psychotherapy, can help people with bipolar disorder successfully manage their symptoms.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive and persistent fear, worry, anxiety and related behavioral disturbances. Fear involves an emotional response to a threat, whether that threat is real or perceived. Anxiety involves the anticipation that a future threat may arise. Types of anxiety disorders include:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

This disorderis marked by excessive worry about everyday events. While some stress and worry are a common part of life, GAD involves worry that is so excessive that it interferes with a person's well-being and functioning.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder is a fairly common psychological disorder that involves an irrational fear of being watched, judged, humiliated, and/or embarrassed. The anxiety caused by this disorder can have a major impact on an individual's life and make it difficult to function at school, work, and other social settings.

Specific Phobias

These phobias involve an extreme fear of a specific object or situation in the environment. Some examples of common specific phobias include fear of spiders, fear of heights, or fear of snakes.

The four main types of specific phobias involve natural events (thunder, lightning, tornadoes), medical (medical procedures, dental procedures, medical equipment), animals (dogs, snakes, bugs), and situational (small spaces, leaving home, driving).

Panic Disorder

This psychiatric disorder is characterized by panic attacks that may seem to strike out of the blue and for no reason at all. Because of this, people with panic disorder often experience anxiety and preoccupation over the possibility of having another panic attack.

People may begin to avoid situations and settings where attacks have occurred in the past or where they might occur in the future. This can create significant impairments in many areas of everyday life and make it difficult to carry out everyday routines.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

This condition is a type of anxiety disorder involving an excessive amount of fear or anxiety related to being separated from attachment figures. People are often familiar with the idea of separation anxiety as it relates to young children's fear of being apart from their parents, but older children and adults can experience it as well.

The person experiencing these symptoms may avoid moving away from home, going to school, or getting married in order to remain in close proximity to the attachment figure.

Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders

Trauma- and stressor-related disorders involve exposure to a stressful or traumatic event. These were previously grouped with anxiety disorders but are now considered a distinct category of disorders. Disorders included in this category include:

Acute Stress Disorder

Acute stress disorder is characterized by the emergence of severe anxiety for up to one month after exposure to a traumatic event. Some examples of traumatic events include natural disasters, war, accidents, and witnessing a death.

As a result, the individual may experience dissociative symptoms such as a sense of altered reality, an inability to remember important aspects of the event, and vivid flashbacks as if the event were reoccurring. Other symptoms can include reduced emotional responsiveness, distressing memories of the trauma, and difficulty experiencing positive emotions.

Adjustment Disorders

Adjustment disorders can occur as a response to a sudden change such as divorce, job loss, end of a close relationship, a move, or some other loss or disappointment. This type of psychological disorder can affect both children and adults and is characterized by symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, depressed mood, worry, anger, hopelessness, and feelings of isolation.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD can develop after an individual has experienced exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Symptoms of PTSD include episodes of reliving or re-experiencing the event, avoiding things that remind the individual about the event, feeling on edge, and having negative thoughts.

Reactive Attachment Disorder

Reactive attachment disorder can result when children do not form healthy relationships and attachments with adult caregivers during the first few years of childhood. Symptoms of the disorder include being withdrawn from adult caregivers and social and emotional disturbances that result from patterns of insufficient care and neglect.

Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative disorders are psychological disorders that involve a dissociation or interruption in aspects of consciousness, including identity and memory. Dissociative disorders include:

Dissociative Amnesia

This disorder involves a temporary loss of memory as a result of dissociation. In many cases, this memory loss, which may last for just a brief period or for many years, is a result of some type of psychological trauma.

Dissociative amnesia is much more than simple forgetfulness. Those who experience this disorder may remember some details about events but may have no recall of other details around a circumscribed period of time.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Formerly known as multiple personality disorder, dissociative identity disorder involves the presence of two or more different identities or personalities in one person. Each of these personalities has its own way of perceiving and interacting with the environment.

People with this disorder experience changes in behavior, memory, perception, emotional response, and consciousness.

Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder

Depersonalization/derealization disorder is characterized by experiencing a sense of being outside of one's own body (depersonalization) and being disconnected from reality (derealization). People who have this disorder often feel a sense of unreality and an involuntary disconnect from their own memories, feelings, and consciousness.

Somatic Symptom Disorders

Formerly referred to as somatoform disorders, this category is now known as somatic symptom disorders. Somatic symptom disorders are a class of psychological disorders that involve prominent physical symptoms that may not have a diagnosable physical cause.

In contrast to previous ways of conceptualizing these disorders based on the absence of a medical explanation for the physical symptoms, the current diagnosis emphasizes the unusual thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that occur in response to these symptoms. Disorders included in this category are:

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Somatic symptom disorder involves a preoccupation with physical symptoms that make it difficult to function. This preoccupation with symptoms results in emotional distress and difficulty coping with daily life.

It is important to note that somatic symptoms do not indicate that individuals are faking their physical pain, fatigue, or other symptoms. In this situation, it is not so much the actual physical symptoms that are disrupting the individual's life as it is the extreme reaction and resulting behaviors.

Illness Anxiety Disorder

Illness anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive concern about having an undiagnosed medical condition. Those who experience this psychological disorder worry excessively about body functions and sensations are convinced that they have or will get a serious disease, and are not reassured, even when medical tests don't detect any illnesses.

Conversion Disorder

Conversion disorder involves experiencing motor or sensory symptoms that lack a compatible neurological or medical explanation. In many cases, a person develops the disorder after experiencing a real physical injury or stressful event, which then results in a psychological and emotional response.

Factitious Disorder

Factitious disorder used to have its own category, but it is now included under the somatic symptom and related disorders category of the DSM-5. A factitious disorder is when an individual intentionally creates, fakes, or exaggerates symptoms of illness. Munchausen syndrome, in which people feign an illness to attract attention, is one severe form of factitious disorder.

Feeding and Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are characterized by obsessive concerns with weight and disruptive eating patterns that negatively impact physical and mental health. Types of eating disorders include:

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosais characterized by restricted food consumption that can lead to weight loss. Some people with anorexia are underweight, while others may be of average or above-average weight. Those who experience this disorder also have a preoccupation and fear of gaining weight as well as a distorted view of their own appearance and behavior.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosainvolves binge eating and then taking extreme steps to compensate for these binges. These compensatory behaviors might include self-induced vomiting, the abuse of laxatives or diuretics, or excessive exercise.

Rumination Disorder

Rumination disorder is marked by regurgitating previously chewed or swallowed food in order to either spit it out or re-swallow it. Rumination disorder can occur in infants, children, teens, and adults. It's also more common in people who have anxiety, depression, or another psychiatric disorder.

Pica involves craving and consuming non-food substances such as dirt, paint, or soap. Pica is more common among young children than adults, but it is also known to occur during pregnancy. A lack of nutrients may also trigger non-food cravings in some instances.

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder involves episodes of binge eating where the individual consumes an unusually large amount of food during a short time period, such as a couple of hours.

People with binge-eating disorder often feel they have no control over their eating. Binge eating episodes are sometimes triggered by certain emotions such as feeling happy, anxious, or bored, or following stressful events.

Sleep-Wake Disorders

Sleep disorders involve an interruption in sleep patterns that leads to distress and affects daytime functioning. Examples of sleep disorders include:

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a condition in which people experience an irrepressible need to sleep. People with narcolepsy may experience a sudden loss of muscle tone, also known as cataplexy.

They are also prone to hypnagogic hallucinations, which happen as someone falls asleep, and hypnopompic hallucinations, which happen as someone wakes up.

Insomnia Disorder

Insomnia disorder involves being unable to get enough sleep to feel rested. While all people experience sleeping difficulties and interruptions at some point, insomnia is considered a disorder when it is accompanied by significant distress or impairment over time.

Hypersomnolence

Hypersomnolence disorder is characterized by excessive sleepiness despite an adequate main sleep period. People with this condition may fall asleep during the day at inappropriate times such as at work and school.

Breathing-Related Sleep Disorders

Breathing-related sleep disorders are those that involve breathing anomalies-such as sleep apnea-that can occur during sleep. These breathing problems can result in brief interruptions in sleep that can lead to other problems including insomnia and daytime sleepiness.

Parasomnias

Parasomnia is a term that describes sleep disorders that feature unusual behaviors. Such disorders include sleepwalking, sleep terrors, sleep talking, and sleep eating.

Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome is a neurological condition that involves having uncomfortable sensations in the legs and an irresistible urge to move the legs in order to relieve the sensations. People with this condition may feel tugging, creeping, burning, and crawling sensations in their legs resulting in an excessive movement which then interferes with sleep.

Disruptive, Impulse Control and Conduct Disorders

Disruptive, impulse control and conduct disorders are those that involve an inability to control emotions and behaviors, resulting in harm to oneself or others.

These challenges with emotional and behavioral regulation are characterized by actions that violate the rights of others such as destroying property or physical aggression and/or those that conflict with societal norms, authority figures, and laws. These disorders include:

Kleptomania

Kleptomania involves an inability to control the impulse to steal. People who have kleptomania will often steal things that they do not really need or that have no real monetary value. Those with this condition experience escalating tension prior to committing a theft and feel relief and gratification afterwards.

Pyromania involves a fascination with fire that results in acts of fire-starting that endanger the self and others. People who struggle with pyromania purposefully and deliberately have set fires more than one time. They also experience tension and emotional arousal before setting a fire.

Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Intermittent explosive disorder is characterized by brief outbursts of anger and violence that are out of proportion to the situation. People with this disorder may erupt into angry outbursts or violent actions in response to everyday annoyances or disappointments.

Conduct Disorder

Conduct disorder is a condition diagnosed in children and adolescents under the age of 18 who regularly violate social norms and the rights of others. Children with this disorder display aggression toward people and animals, destroy property, steal and deceive, and violate other rules and laws. These behaviors result in significant problems in a child's academic or social functioning.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Oppositional defiant disorder begins prior to the age of 18 and is characterized by defiance, irritability, anger, aggression, and vindictiveness.

Depressive Disorders

The category of depressive disorders includes a number of conditions. They are all characterized by the presence of sad, empty, or irritable moods accompanied by physical and cognitive symptoms. They differ in terms of duration, timing, and causes. Some include:

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder: A childhood condition characterized by extreme anger and irritability. Children display frequent and intense outbursts of temper.

Major depressive disorder: A condition characterized by loss of interest in activities and depressed mood which leads to significant impairments in how a person is able to function.

Persistent depressive disorder:This is a type of ongoing, chronic depression that is characterized by other symptoms of depression. While the symptoms are often less severe, they are longer lasting. Diagnosis requires experiencing a depressed mood on most days for a period of at least two years.

Other specified depressive disorder: This diagnosis is for cases when symptoms do not meet the criteria for the diagnosis of another depressive disorder, but they still create problems with an individual's life and functioning.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: This condition is a form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) characterized by significant depression, irritability, and anxiety that begins a week or two before menstruation begins. Symptoms usually go away within a few days following bleeding.

Substance/medication-induced depressive disorder: This condition occurs when an individual experiences symptoms of a depressive disorder either while using alcohol or other substances or while going through withdrawal from a substance.

Depressive disorder due to another medical condition: This condition is diagnosed when a person's medical history suggests that their depressive symptoms may be the result of a medical condition. Medical conditions that may contribute to or cause depression include diabetes, stroke, Parkinson's disease, autoimmune conditions, chronic pain conditions, cancer, infections and HIV/AIDS.

Depressive disorders are all characterized by feelings of sadness and low mood that are persistent and severe enough to affect how a person functions.

The diagnostic criteria vary for each specific condition. For major depressive disorder, diagnosis requires an individual to experience five or more of the following symptoms over the same two-week period.

One of these symptoms must include either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyed activities. Other symptoms can include:

Significant weight loss or gain

Decreased or increased appetite

Sleep disturbances (insomnia or hypersomnia)

Feelings of slowed physical activity or restlessness

Lack of energy or fatigue that lasts most or all of the day

Feelings of guilt or worthlessness

Difficulty thinking or concentrating

Preoccupation with death or thoughts of suicide

Treatments for depressive disorders often involve a combination of psychotherapy and medications.

Substance Use and Addictive Disorders

Substance-related disorders are those that involve the misuse of different substances such as cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, and alcohol.

These disorders may include substance-induced conditions that can result in many associated diagnoses including intoxication, withdrawal, or the emergence of psychosis, anxiety, and delirium. Examples of substance-related disorders include:

Alcohol-related disorders: Theseinvolve the consumption of alcohol, one of the most widely used drugs in the United States.

Cannabis-related disorders: These disordersinclude symptoms such as using more marijuana than originally intended, feeling unable to stop it, and continuing to use it despite adverse effects in one's life.

Inhalant-use disorders: Theseinvolve inhaling fumes from things such as paints or solvents. As with other substance-related disorders, people with this condition experience cravings for the substance and find it difficult to control or stop engaging in the behavior.

Stimulant use disorder: Thisinvolves the use of stimulants such as meth, amphetamines, and cocaine.

Tobacco use disorder: This is characterized by symptoms such as consuming more tobacco than intended, difficulty cutting back or quitting, cravings, and experiencing adverse social consequences as a result of tobacco use.

Gambling Disorder

Neurocognitive Disorders

Neurocognitive disorders are characterized by acquired deficits in cognitive function. These disorders do not include those in which impaired cognition was present at birth or early in life. Types of cognitive disorders include:

Delirium is also known as acute confusional state. This disorder develops over a short period of time-usually a few hours or a few days-and is characterized by disturbances in attention and awareness.

Other Neurocognitive Disorders

Major and mild neurocognitive disorders have the primary feature of acquired cognitive decline in one or more areas including memory, attention, language, learning, and perception.

These cognitive disorders can be due to medical conditions including Alzheimer's disease, HIV infection, Parkinson's disease, substance/medication use, vascular disease, and others.

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric condition that affects a person's thinking, feeling, and behavior. It is a complex, long-term condition that affects less than 1% of people in the United States.

The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria specify that two or more symptoms of schizophrenia must be present for a period of at least one month.

One symptom must be one of the following:

Delusions: Beliefs that conflict with reality

Hallucinations: Seeing or hearing things that aren't really there

Disorganized speech: Words that do not follow the rules of language and may be difficult or impossible to understand

The second symptom may be one of the following:

Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior: Confused thinking or bizarre behavior or movements

Negative symptoms: The inability to initiate plans, speak, express emotions, or feel pleasure

Diagnosis also requires significant impairments in social or occupational functioning for a period of at least six months. The onset of schizophrenia is usually in the late teens or early 20s, with men usually showing symptoms earlier than women. Earlier signs of the condition that may occur before diagnosis include poor motivation, difficult relationships, and poor school performance.

The National Institute of Mental Health suggests that multiple factors may play a role in the development of schizophrenia including genetics, brain chemistry, environmental factors, and substance use.

Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders is a category of psychiatric conditions that include:

Each condition in this classification has its own set of diagnostic criteria.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

The diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5 specify that in order to be diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, a person must experience obsessions, compulsions, or both.

Obsessions: Defined as recurrent, persistent thoughts, impulses, and urges that lead to distress or anxiety

Compulsions: Repetitive and excessive behaviors that the individual feels that they must perform to reduce anxiety or to prevent some dreaded outcome from occurring

Treatments for OCD usually focus on a combination of therapy and medications. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or a form of CBT known as exposure and response prevention (ERP) are commonly used. Antidepressants such as Anafranil (clomipramine) or Prozac (fluoxetine) may also be prescribed to manage symptoms.

Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are characterized by an enduring pattern of maladaptive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that can cause serious detriments to relationships and other life areas. Types of personality disorders include:

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a long-standing disregard for rules, social norms, and the rights of others. People with this disorder typically begin displaying symptoms during childhood, have difficulty feeling empathy for others, and lack remorse for their destructive behaviors.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Avoidant personality disorder involves severe social inhibition and sensitivity to rejection. Such feelings of insecurity lead to significant problems with the individual's daily life and functioning.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder is associated with symptoms including emotional instability, unstable and intense interpersonal relationships, unstable self-image, and impulsive behaviors.

Dependent Personality Disorder

Dependent personality disorder involves a chronic pattern of fearing separation and an excessive need to be taken care of. People with this disorder will often engage in behaviors that are designed to produce care-giving actions in others.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Histrionic personality disorder is associated with patterns of extreme emotionality and attention-seeking behaviors. People with this condition feel uncomfortable in settings where they are not the center of attention, have rapidly changing emotions, and may engage in socially inappropriate behaviors designed to attract attention from others.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic personality disorder is associated with a lasting pattern of exaggerated self-image, self-centeredness, and low empathy. People with this condition tend to be more interested in themselves than in others.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, inflexibility, and mental and interpersonal control. This is a different condition than obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by a distrust of others, even family, friends, and romantic partners. People with this disorder perceive others' intentions as malevolent, even without any evidence or justification.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Schizoid personality disorder involves symptoms that include being detached from social relationships. People with this disorder are directed toward their inner lives and are often indifferent to relationships. They generally display a lack of emotional expression and can appear cold and aloof.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Schizotypal personality disorder features eccentricities in speech, behaviors, appearance, and thought. People with this condition may experience odd beliefs or magical thinking as well as difficulty forming relationships.

A Word From Verywell

Various factors influence a person's risk of developing a psychological disorder, including biological, social, environmental, cultural, and economic factors. Factors such as social support and coping skills can have protective effects.

Some conditions are short-term, while others may be lifelong. Conditions can also change over time.

Psychological disorders can cause disruptions in daily functioning, relationships, work, school, and other important domains. However, with appropriate diagnosis and treatment, people can find relief from their symptoms and discover ways to cope effectively.

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Explore a List of Psychological Disorders From the DSM-5

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Psychological disorders are grouped into different categories in the DSM-5. Explore this list of different types of mental disorders and how they are categorized.

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What is pica?

Pica is an eating disorder where a person compulsively eats things that aren't food and don't have any nutritional value or purpose. Depending on when and why a person does this, pica can be normal, expected and harmless. However, it can cause major problems if a person with this condition eats something toxic or dangerous.

Pronounced "PIKE-ah," pica gets its name from a bird species, the Eurasian magpie (the formal Latin name for that species is Pica pica). This bird has a reputation for eating unusual objects.

Who does pica affect?

Pica can happen to anyone at any age but tends to happen in three specific groups of people:

Young children, especially those under 6 years old.

People who are pregnant.

People with certain mental health conditions, especially autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities or schizophrenia.

How common is pica?

Pica is a relatively common condition, but experts aren't sure exactly how common it is. That's partly because research studies often don't use the same definition for this condition.

It's also common for healthcare providers to miss the condition entirely. This can happen when people don't tell their doctor about it or don't report signs of it in their children.

Yet another reason is that infants and young children often put things in their mouths, which is part of their normal development. This kind of pica usually goes away on its own very quickly.

How does this condition affect my body?

Pica is a condition where a person compulsively eats things that aren't food and don't have any nutritional value. Because it's compulsive, people with this condition have a very hard time controlling the urge on their own.

Pica can have a wide range of effects depending on what non-food item(s) a person eats. For people who eat things like ice - a common behavior for someone who is pregnant - pica is harmless. For others, it can lead to eating dangerous or toxic items.

Depending on what you eat, pica can damage your teeth. It can also lead to dangerous problems even when you eat things that aren't toxic. An example is when people eat hair (known as trichophagia), which can get stuck in their digestive tract, causing blockages, tearing or other damage.

Parasites that live in the soil can also infect people who eat dirt or clay (geophagia). People can also contract illnesses from eating feces (poop), especially pet feces that might contain parasites or other germs.

Mental health effects

People with pica often feel embarrassed or ashamed about this condition. Because of this, people with this condition often don't seek treatment or are afraid to open up about it to their healthcare provider.

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Pica: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

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Pica is a mental health condition where people compulsively swallow non-food items. Swallowing hazardous items makes this condition dangerous, but it's treatable.

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Pica is a condition that mostly affects pregnant people and children. People with the disorder feel compelled to eat non-food items. Sometimes they may consume things that are dangerous, and be unable to stop.

People with the disorder pica compulsively eat items that have no nutritional value. A person with pica might eat relatively harmless items, such as ice. Or they might eat potentially dangerous items, likes flakes of dried paint or pieces of metal.

In the latter case, the disorder can lead to serious consequences, such as lead poisoning.

This disorder occurs most often in children and pregnant women. It's usually temporary. See your doctor right away if you or your child can't help but eat nonfood items. Treatment can help you avoid potentially serious side effects.

Pica also occurs in people who have intellectual disabilities. It's often more severe and long-lasting in people with severe developmental disabilities.

People with pica eat nonfood items regularly. The behavior must continue for at least one month to qualify as pica.

If you have pica, you may regularly eat things such as:

You may also eat other nonfood items.

There's no single cause of pica. In some cases, a deficiency in iron, zinc, or another nutrient may be associated with pica. For example, anemia, usually from iron deficiency, may be the underlying cause of pica in pregnant women.

Your unusual cravings may be a sign that your body is trying to replenish low nutrient levels.

People with certain mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), may develop pica as a coping mechanism.

Some people may even enjoy and crave the textures or flavors of certain nonfood items. In some cultures, eating clay is an accepted behavior. This form of pica is called geophagia.

Dieting and malnourishment can both lead to pica. In these cases, eating nonfood items may help you feel full.

There's no test for pica. Your doctor will diagnose this condition based on history and several other factors.

You should be honest with your doctor about the nonfood items you've eaten. This will help them develop an accurate diagnosis.

It may be hard for them to determine if you have pica if you don't tell them what you've been eating. The same is true for children or people with intellectual disabilities.

Your doctor may test your blood to see if you have low levels of zinc or iron. This can help your doctor learn if you have an underlying nutrient deficiency, such as iron deficiency. Nutrient deficiencies may sometimes be related to pica.

Eating certain nonfood items can sometimes lead to other serious conditions. These conditions can include:

Your doctor will probably begin by treating any complications you've acquired from eating nonfood items. For example, if you have severe lead poisoning from eating paint chips, your doctor may prescribe chelation therapy.

In this procedure, you'll be given medication that binds with lead. This will allow you to excrete the lead in your urine.

This medication may be taken by mouth, or your doctor may prescribe intravenous chelation medications for lead poisoning, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).

If your doctor thinks your pica is caused by nutrient imbalances, they may prescribe vitamin or mineral supplements. For example, they'll recommend taking regular iron supplements if you're diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia.

Your doctor may also order a psychological evaluation to determine if you have OCD or another mental health condition. Depending on your diagnosis, they may prescribe medications, therapy, or both.

Until recently, research hasn't focused on medications to help people with pica. A 2000 study published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis suggested that a simple multivitamin supplement may be an effective treatment in some cases.

If a person with pica has an intellectual disability or mental health condition, medications for managing behavioral problems may also help reduce or eliminate their desire to eat nonnutritive items.

In children and pregnant women, pica often goes away in a few months without treatment. If a nutritional deficiency is causing your pica, treating it should ease your symptoms.

Pica doesn't always go away. It can last for years, especially in people who have intellectual disabilities. Your doctor will help you understand the outlook for your specific case and what you can do to help manage the condition.

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Pica is a condition that mostly affects pregnant people and children. People with the disorder feel compelled to eat non-food items. Sometimes they may consume things that are dangerous, and be unable to stop. People with the disorder pica compulsively eat items that have no nutritional value.

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Fólk getur verið að borða hluti sem hafa skaðleg áhrif á líkamann og eða enginn næringarefni.

hlutirnir sem fólk er að borða geta valdið eitrunum og jafnvel dauða síðan.

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Orsökin eru ekki full þekkt en fólk með undirliggjandi sjúkdóma eins og alvarlegan járnskort, snýkjudýr í maga, sigðfrumusjúkdóm, erfðasjúkdóm eða geðsjúkdóm eins og þráhyggju- og árátturöskun geta haft áhrif á hvort einstaklingur fær Pica.

Einstaklingur gæti óvart byrjað að borða eitthvað sem veldur síðar Pica en svo gæti einstaklingurinn líka leitast eftir að borða eitthvað sem hann á ekki.

Hungur hjá börnum gæti verið ein orsök hjá börnum sem greinast með Pica og eru það því oftar börn sem eiga fátæka foreldra eða eru neydd í að borða þegar þau eru ekki svöng.

Einstaklingurinn gæti einnig verið að borða hluti sem hann á ekki til þess að fá viðbrögð eða athygli frá ummaðila , hungri, vítamínskorts, til þess að bæla kvíða eða róa sig niður ef einstaklingurinn finnur fyrir mikilli streitu.

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Í þeim tilfellum sem einstaklingur er borðandi krít, mold eða leir vegna járnskorts virkar oft að gefa eintaklinginum bara meðferð fyrir járnskortinum. ef um er að ræða einhverskonar næringarskort sem veldur einkennum Pica virkar yfirleitt að bæta mataræði og inntöku vítamína og bætiefna.

Einstaklingar með alvarleg einkenni Pica þurfa að fá hjálp frá átraskana sérfræðingum, næringarfræðingum og sálfræðingum til þess að bæla og stoppa þráir þeirra í óæta hluti.

Lyf sem bæta framleiðslu dópamíns eins og lyfið Zyprexa hafa verið notuð til þess að draga úr þessum einkennum og þar að leiðandi sem meðferðarúrræði fyrir Pica.

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This Woman Is Addicted to Eating Chalk | My Strange Addiction: Still Addicted? | TLC

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Categories: ASD and DD, Adult-focused; ASD and DD, Child-focused

By Jennifer Zarcone, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Pica (pronounced "pike-ah") is a very dangerous disorder characterized by craving or ingesting inedible items. Pica is not as rare as you might think. The disorder has been diagnosed in 27-68% of pregnant women and in up to 50% of very young children. Pica behavior may also be seen in about 10% of individuals with autism and other developmental challenges.

A person with pica may eat dirt, rocks, screws, nails, hair, crayons, glue, cleaning supplies, plastic, erasers, buttons, paint chips, chalk, wood, glass, needles, rubber bands, cigarette ends, and/or pieces of metal. While some of these items may not lead to significant medical complications, others can cause poisoning, bowel obstructions or perforations, malnutrition, and even death.

The exact cause of pica is not known, but it may be associated with certain medical conditions (gastric parasites, sickle cell disease, iron deficiency), genetic disorders, and mental health conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder. For example, people with iron deficiency may crave and eat clay, chalk, and dirt. Simply treating the iron deficiency may successfully reduce the behavior.

Sometimes pica occurs by accident when an individual "mouths" an item and then accidentally swallows it. This occurs in both young children and individuals with disabilities who like the sensation of putting things in their mouths. Other times, pica occurs in a purposeful way when the individual seeks out the item to ingest. These accidental and purposeful situations should be handled in different ways.

If you are caring for a person who engages in pica accidentally due to mouthing, it is critical to keep the environment clear of items that could be mouthed and/or swallowed. It is also important to carefully supervise the individual to block or stop mouthing or pica when it first occurs. You may need to put locks on cabinets, drawers, or the refrigerator. It is helpful to make everyone who comes into contact with that individual aware of the dangers of pica and enlist their assistance in providing supervision and keeping the environment safe.

For those individuals who purposefully seek out items to ingest, it is a good idea to obtain a medical consultation to identify any underlying conditions such as iron deficiencies that may be causing the behavior. In addition, behavioral support should be sought not only to prevent the occurrence of pica, but to potentially treat the behavior as well.

It is also important to identify the circumstances in which pica is mostly likely to occur. For example, if the behavior occurs prior to meals, it may be due to a vitamin deficiency or hunger. If it occurs at times when adults or caregivers are busy, it may be to get a reaction or attention from others. If it occurs during times of stress or anxiety, it may serve as a coping or calming mechanism. To reduce occurrences of pica, provide safe, healthy, and appropriate alternative food items and help the individual find other ways to get attention and reduce stress.

Unfortunately, pica is often discovered after an individual has already ingested the inedible item. In many cases, it is diagnosed in a hospital emergency room after a person has been transported there because of a physiological reaction such as vomiting, constipation, fever, or rectal bleeding caused by the ingestion of the inedible item. If you think anyone has ingested something dangerous, it is critical to immediately call 911 if the person is in distress or shows signs of illness. In instances where the individual does not exhibit signs of distress or illness, call Poison Control to determine next steps. Post the number for Poison Control near landlines, or program it into your cell phone.

As family, friends, and caretakers of young children and individuals with intellectual disabilities, it is our responsibility to provide safe and healthy living environments. By implementing effective safety measures, providing access to healthy alternative food items, increasing supervision, and teaching appropriate ways to communicate, we can protect the individuals we support, and help them live long and productive lives.

Jennifer Zarcone, Ph.D., BCBA-D, is May Institute's Chief Clinical Officer. She can be contacted at jzarcone@mayinstitute.org.

About May Institute
May Institute is a nonprofit organization that is a national leader in the field of applied behavior analysis and evidence-based interventions, serving autistic individuals and individuals with other developmental disabilities, brain injury, neurobehavioral disorders, and other special needs. Founded nearly 70 years ago, we provide a wide range of exceptional educational and rehabilitative services across the lifespan. May Institute operates five schools for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, including one in West Springfield, Mass. For more information, call 800.778.7601 or visit www.mayinstitute.org.

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Categories: ASD and DD, Adult-focused; ASD and DD, Child-focused By Jennifer Zarcone, Ph.D., BCBA-D Pica (pronounced "pike-ah") is a very dangerous disorder characterized by craving or ingesting inedible items. Pica is not as rare as you might think. The disorder has been diagnosed in 27-68% of pregnant women and in up to 50% of very young children.

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Átröskun er langvarandi alvarlegur geðsjúkdómur sem einkennist af slæmum hugsunum og truflun á mataræði og líkamsmynd.

líkamlegir, sálrænir og félagslegir þættir hafa allir áhrif á sjúkdóminn. Átröskun getur haft veruleg áhrif á líkama einstaklings og jafnvel leitt til dauða.

Dæmi um aðrar átraskanir:

Lystarstol

lotugræðgi

jórtunarröskun

ofátsröskun

forðun/takmörkuð matarinntöku röskun

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Best er að fjarlægja hlutinn úr umhverfi barns eða einstaklingsins sem neytir hans til þess að stoppa hann frá því að borða hann ef hann gerir það óvart en er ekki sjálfviljugur að borða hlutinn.

Ef einstaklingurinn er að þessu til þess að fá athygli eða hjálpa við streitu er gott að finna aðrar aðferðir fyrir hann til þess að róa sig eða fá þessa athygli sem hann vill.