This means the individual will typically receive lab and blood testing from a doctor, as well as a physical exam to rule out or identify any biological or somatic causes for the disorder like malnutrition that aren’t mental health-related. Outlook (Prognosis) Treatment success varies. Medicines may help reduce the abnormal eating behavior if pica is part of a developmental disorder such as intellectual disability. Then the person gets rewarded for eating normal foods. Other drugs which have been tried for treatment of PICA with some benefit include bromocriptine and methylphenidate.Īt low dose, these drugs are fairly well tolerated and to avoid side effects one should not practice polypharmacy. Pica disorder is treated using a multi-disciplinary approach. One form of treatment associates the pica behavior with negative consequences or punishment (mild aversion therapy). The effects of anti psychotics are not immediate and can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks to manifest. It is highly recommended that one follow up with a psychiatrist when using these drugs. Treatment options for Pica will usually focus on dealing with medical causes first. This may be due to ineffective dose, improper diagnosis or a combination of other emotional problems. One should be aware that a few mentally handicapped individuals who have been treated with anti psychotics have gone on to develop worsening of PICA. The principal brain target of all antipsychotic drugs is the dopamine D2 receptor. Some individuals required drug therapy for 3-9 months. Isolated reports do indicate that with time PICA does diminish and the drugs can be stopped. Drugs like olanzapine, risperidone, or clozapine have shown to be more easily tolerated and produce relief in many cases. However, based on case reports and effectiveness, the drugs with the best benefit for PICA are the atypical anti psychotics. No one really knows what the ideal drugs are and how long to treat PICA. In the literature, all drug therapy treatment for PICA is anecdotal and only isolated case reports exist. Pica may be treated via nutritional supplements and changes in diet if mineral deficiencies are identified as the cause of the disorder. There are no approved drug regimens for PICA. Many of these individuals have tried behavior therapy and have not improved. However, there are many reports of adults with PICA who realize that their eating habits are troublesome. Moreover, this is true in a number of individuals. The majority of health care workers believe that PICA resolves spontaneously or can be improved with behavior treatment.
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