FacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestYouarehereHome/Learn/WhatareEatingDisorders?/InformationbyEatingDisorderPicaPicaisaneatingdisorderthatinvolveseatingitemsthatarenottypicallythoughtofasfoodandthatdonotcontainsignificantnutritionalvalue,suchashair,dirt,andpaintchips. EVALUATION&DIAGNOSISTherearenolaboratorytestsforpica.Instead,thediagnosisismadefromaclinicalhistoryofthepatient.Diagnosingpicashouldbeaccompaniedbytestsforanemia,potentialintestinalblockages,andtoxicsideeffectsofsubstancesconsumed(i.e.,leadinpaint,bacteriaorparasitesfromdirt).WARNINGSIGNS&SYMPTOMSOFPICAThepersistenteating,overaperiodofatleastonemonth,ofsubstancesthatarenotfoodanddonotprovidenutritionalvalue.Theingestionofthesubstance(s)isnotapartofculturallysupportedorsociallynormativepractice(e.g.,someculturespromoteeatingclayaspartofamedicinalpractice).Typicalsubstancesingestedtendtovarywithageandavailability.Theymayincludepaper,soap,cloth,hair,string,wool,soil,chalk,talcumpowder,paint,gum,metal,pebbles,charcoal,ash,clay,starch,orice. Theeatingofthesesubstancesmustbedevelopmentallyinappropriate.Inchildrenundertwoyearsofage,mouthingobjects—orputtingsmallobjectsintheirmouth—isanormalpartofdevelopment,allowingthechildtoexploretheirsenses.Mouthingmaysometimesresultiningestion.Inordertoexcludedevelopmentallynormalmouthing,childrenundertwoyearsofageshouldnotbediagnosedwithpica.Generally,thosewithpicaarenotaversetoingestingfood. RISKFACTORSPicaoftenoccurswithothermentalhealthdisordersassociatedwithimpairedfunctioning(e.g.,intellectualdisability,autismspectrumdisorder,schizophrenia). Iron-deficiencyanemiaandmalnutritionaretwoofthemostcommoncausesofpica,followedbypregnancy.Intheseindividuals,picaisasignthatthebodyistryingtocorrectasignificantnutrientdeficiency.Treatingthisdeficiencywithmedicationorvitaminsoftenresolvestheproblems.Amedicalprofessionalshouldassessifthebehaviorissufficientlyseveretowarrantindependentclinicalattention(e.g.,somepeoplemayeatnonfooditemsduringpregnancy,buttheirdoctormaydeterminethatthe