Pica syndrome, which is one of the eating disorders, is defined as the
eating of non-nutritive substances (such as coal, soil) by people with an uncontrollable desire and
for unknown reasons. Eating and behavioral disorder known as pica
is seen together with behavioral psychiatric disorders, anemia, mineral
deficiencies and behavioral disorders such as anorexia nervosa and socio-cultural factors, especially during pregnancy and childhood. Typically, children may eat plaster, hair, yarn, paint, soil
animal excrement, erasers, stones. It is frequently seen in children with mental retardation,
the incidence of pica increases as the intelligence level decreases. Pica is named differently depending on the type and
type of edible substance. Although some cases are seen as a disease factor
, in some cases it is seen as a result of the disease. Nutrition and
eating disorders are included in the diagnosis category of DSM-V.
When we look at the history of the syndrome, the oldest definitions were made by Aristotle and Hippocrates
. According to the first definition made in the 1200s, this eating disorder refers to the consumption of
non-nutritive substances such as soil, salt, metals, along with a change in the sense of taste. Pica syndrome occurs together with various reasons.
These causes are closely related to psychological and physiological conditions. The underlying causes of Pica syndrome are the most basic of psychological disorders. When looking at the underlying causes of pica syndrome in a
healthy individual who is physiologically healthy, it is necessary to look at the psychological factors
. The individual's difficulty in distinguishing food, deviant feelings and loss of taste
cause the formation of pica. In individuals with eating-behavioral disorders such as bulminia nervosa or anorexia nervosa
, pica can form in line with the desire to fill their stomach
. In addition to these, it is one of the psychological disorders that cause pica in schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia argue that it is natural to swallow these
nutrients that have no nutritional value and that these substances should not be taken from their stomachs.
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