The Neurology and Psychopathology of Pica

This article reviews the a ssociation of pica with pregnancy, micronutrient deficiencies, psychiatric disorders, dementia, and developmental disorders with emphasis on autism spectrum disorders (ASD).Recent FindingsSome variants of non-nutritive consumption are prevalent behavioral norms in non-western cultures, so not all picas should be considered pathological. However, the strong association of pica with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) lends credence to the hypothesis that dopamine transmission may be disrupted in this disorder. Picas associated with ASD are resistant to medications but can be treated with applied behavioral analysis therapy (ABA).SummaryEtiological hypotheses for pica are explored with a focus on neurobiological, neuroimaging, and psychiatric correlations. Pharmacological management and behavior modification strategies are also discussed. The possibility that pica is a form of addiction analogous to food cravings is introduced and suggested as an area for further research pursuits.
Source: Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research