Pica is the consumption of non-food items, and has multiple aetiologies. Its importance was recognized in the latest DSM-5 in 2013, which located it in the “Feeding and Eating Disorders” section. Pica can be caused by organic, psychological, and sociological reasons. There remains very scant literature regarding the prevalence, basic sciences, psychological causative factors, or interventions that treat pica other than reversal of the underlying causes. Risk factor groups include immigrants, pregnant women, and individuals with developmental disabilities. Screening is also highly restricted to single-item questionnaires with questionable validity. Intervention is targeted towards correction of biological abnormalities including gastro-intestinal conditions and associated electrolyte abnormalities.
In this Research Topic, we would like to address the issue of under-detection and under-recognition of pica as a clinical disorder. Hence, case reports focusing on the multiple aetiolgies of pica would illustrate its multiple origins. Also, we intend to focus on the development of better structured quantitative and qualitative assessment mechanisms for pica identification. Integration of artificial intelligence, digital health, and telemedicine or teleconsultation into pica diagnosis, assessment, and treatment approaches is another potential area of interest for this Research Topic. Additionally, we welcome submissions focusing on potential new areas of intervention across the spectrum of biological, psychological, and social therapies. This includes individual, societal, communal, and policy making initiatives from the top down.
The scope of articles can include (but is not limited to):
• Neurobiological mechanisms that are likely to underlie pica, and recommendations for further research
• Clinical case writeups or case series that look at pica presentations or exacerbations, or focus on challenging diagnostic or management points
• Experimental studies looking at interventions focused around pica
• Systematic reviews or meta-analyses that cover the scope of the above topics
• Proposals for development and validation of questionnaires to identify pica
• Studies on genetic factors that may underlie pica
Keywords:
pica, eating disorder, bezoar, geophagia, non-food items, pregnancy, pagophagia, ingestion, non-nutritive substances, developmental disorders, psychotic disorders, pregnant women, immigrants, feeding disorders, eating disorders
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Pica is the consumption of non-food items, and has multiple aetiologies. Its importance was recognized in the latest DSM-5 in 2013, which located it in the “Feeding and Eating Disorders” section. Pica can be caused by organic, psychological, and sociological reasons. There remains very scant literature regarding the prevalence, basic sciences, psychological causative factors, or interventions that treat pica other than reversal of the underlying causes. Risk factor groups include immigrants, pregnant women, and individuals with developmental disabilities. Screening is also highly restricted to single-item questionnaires with questionable validity. Intervention is targeted towards correction of biological abnormalities including gastro-intestinal conditions and associated electrolyte abnormalities.
In this Research Topic, we would like to address the issue of under-detection and under-recognition of pica as a clinical disorder. Hence, case reports focusing on the multiple aetiolgies of pica would illustrate its multiple origins. Also, we intend to focus on the development of better structured quantitative and qualitative assessment mechanisms for pica identification. Integration of artificial intelligence, digital health, and telemedicine or teleconsultation into pica diagnosis, assessment, and treatment approaches is another potential area of interest for this Research Topic. Additionally, we welcome submissions focusing on potential new areas of intervention across the spectrum of biological, psychological, and social therapies. This includes individual, societal, communal, and policy making initiatives from the top down.
The scope of articles can include (but is not limited to):
• Neurobiological mechanisms that are likely to underlie pica, and recommendations for further research
• Clinical case writeups or case series that look at pica presentations or exacerbations, or focus on challenging diagnostic or management points
• Experimental studies looking at interventions focused around pica
• Systematic reviews or meta-analyses that cover the scope of the above topics
• Proposals for development and validation of questionnaires to identify pica
• Studies on genetic factors that may underlie pica
Keywords:
pica, eating disorder, bezoar, geophagia, non-food items, pregnancy, pagophagia, ingestion, non-nutritive substances, developmental disorders, psychotic disorders, pregnant women, immigrants, feeding disorders, eating disorders
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.