Pica Disorder in Adults: 6 Best Coping strategies

Pica disorder in adults is not very common, as it is primarily a childhood disease. It can persist in adults for some reasons and cause serious health risks and challenges. Understanding the causes of Pica disorder in adults is important to developing management and treatment strategies to improve the life quality of the affected person.

What is Pica disorder?

Pica disorder in adults is considered a disease that causes persistent cravings for non-food items or those that don’t have any nutritional value. Most commonly, this order prevails in children, but it also affects adults less commonly. Even though the prevalence of Pica disorder in adults is low, it impacts wellness both physically and mentally. The timely attention given to Pica disorder makes the health situation better.

What are the main causes of Pica disorder in adults?

There are several factors that contribute to Pica disorder in adults, such as:

1.Nutritional Deficiencies

Different nutritional deficiencies, especially iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), and anemic conditions are the main causes of Pica disorder in adults. People with these deficiencies feel certain types of cravings for non-food items. Their bodies make permanent efforts to compensate for these deficiencies. Electrolyte imbalance, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, and intestinal blockage are also the major factors that contribute to nutritional deficiency.

2.Mental Health Conditions

There are several mental health disorders that are directly linked to Pica disorder in adults.

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

These two disorders cause repetitive Pica behavior in individuals.

3.Developmental Disorders

Different mental developmental disorders also cause these disorders, such as:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• intellectual disabilities
• sensory processing disorders,

In these diseases, the patient has a sensory-seeking disorder and is unable to differentiate between edible and non-edible food items.

4.Environmental Factors

In certain environments where cultural influence is vital, the body is exposed to toxins for a long time, such as lead. The pica disorder in adults may develop in such environments. The endoparasite infestation may be the reason for the pica disorder. The other factor is socio-economic, in which people don’t have access to nutritional food and become deficient, ultimately leading to poverty.

5.Pregnancy and hormonal changes

During pregnancy, pica cravings are very common due to increased nutritional demand and hormonal changes. Pregnant women feel cravings for ice and clay more often, but the exact reason for these cravings is still unknown.

6.Psychological Factors

Some psychological factors may cause the pica disorder in adults, such as

• Stress
• Anxiety
• past trauma

In these conditions, the patient tries to get rid of stress and anxiety by consuming non-edible items as a coping strategy to feel calm inside.

Symptoms of Pica Disorder in Adults

The main symptoms are that people show a craving for different non-edible items, such as:

• Ice
• Clay
• Dirt
• Chalk
• Paper
• Soap
• Hair
• Cloth
• Wool
• Pebbles
• laundry starch
• raw rice
• corn starch

The craving for the above items prevails despite the These cravings can persist despite knowledge of the associated health risks.

What are the complications of Pica disorder?

There are different complications associated with pica disorder in adults if this issue is not timely diagnosed and its solution is not figured out.

• Ingestion of non-food items
• Gastrointestinal obstructions
• Dental damage
• Continuous toxic exposure

How to diagnose Pica disorder?

Pica is a disorder that requires a complete laboratory evaluation for a complete assessment of its causes. For this reason, blood tests, stool tests, and x-rays are suggested to look into the internal digestive tract issue and nutritional deficiencies. Some psychological evaluation can also be used to check mental health status.

What are the coping strategies for Pica disorder?

For Pica patients, multifaceted techniques are always useful to fulfill the physical and emotional support of the patient.

1. Nutritional assessment and supplementation: if the patient has nutritional deficiencies, medical professionals and nutritionists can suggest supplements along with a balanced diet to fulfill the iron, calcium, and zinc deficiencies. By following the doctor’s instructions, these cravings can be completely stopped.
2. Behavioral therapy: Some cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT) and behavioral therapies are also available that help to change the patients’ thinking and behaviors regarding Pica. This may involve emerging alternative coping strategies for managing cravings for non-edible items.
3. Environmental modifications: A supportive environment with less access to non-edible items can also help to reduce these cravings. Family and friends help to minimize the exposure of those things until the route issue resolved of nutritional or behavioral.
4. Substitution and distraction: Engage patients in other activities and provide alternative sources to satisfy their oral and tactile needs. Some materials are helpful, such as chewable toys and sensory objects.
5. Support groups: By joining groups with other Pica patients, you can help to understand the disease and also seek motivation and encouragement to avoid Pica disorder in adults.
6. Medical management: In some situations, medication is necessary, such as in anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Always follow the healthcare professional’s prescription for any medication type.

Prevention of Pica Disorder Relapse

The prevention of Pica disorder always has to have:

• Good, balanced nutrition
• Healthy eating habits
• Address mental health issues.
• Create a supportive environment to avoid non-edible items.

Conclusion

It is concluded that pica disorder in adults is less common than adults, but it persists and causes unique challenges in daily life. A comprehensive management approach is required to treat the pica disorder according to the causing factors. Some nutritional, psychological, and underlying emotional factors cause the pica disorder in adults, but by understanding these factors, coping strategies can be designed. These coping strategies help the patients lead a normal life.

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