What is the term used to described a feeding disorder characterized by eating non-nutritious substances such as soil, paint etc.?

Appeared in: DSSSB - 28 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

Pica is the correct medical term for the persistent eating of non-nutritive, non-food substances.
This behavior must persist for at least one month and be developmentally inappropriate to be diagnosed as Pica.
Commonly ingested items include paper, soap, cloth, hair, string, soil, chalk, paint, metal, pebbles, and coal.
The image of a child eating soil is a classic visual representation of Pica.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: Anorexia nervosa involves severe food restriction and an intense fear of gaining weight, not the consumption of non-food items.
Option B: Bulimia nervosa is characterized by cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors like purging. It does not involve eating non-food substances.
Option C: Binge eating disorder involves eating large amounts of food in a short time with a sense of loss of control, but without the compensatory behaviors of bulimia or the consumption of non-food items seen in Pica.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Feeding and Eating Disorders as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in identifying Pica, especially in vulnerable populations like children and individuals with developmental disabilities.
Assessment for Pica should include screening for nutritional deficiencies (e.g., iron, zinc) and potential complications like lead poisoning or intestinal blockage.
Patient and family education is vital to manage the behavior and prevent serious health consequences. This includes securing the environment to limit access to non-food items.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core behavior described in the question stem. Here, it is 'eating non-nutritious substances' like soil and paint.
Next, review the definitions of the provided options, which are all types of eating or feeding disorders.
Match the core behavior to the correct definition. The act of eating non-food items directly corresponds to the definition of Pica.
Eliminate the other options by recalling their defining features: Anorexia (restriction/fear of weight gain), Bulimia (binge-purge cycle), and Binge Eating (bingeing without purging).

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Feeding and Eating Disorders
Stem keywords: feeding disorder, eating non-nutritious substances, soil, paint
Lead-in keywords: term used to describe
Clinical cues: Eating non-food items is the defining characteristic.

Question ID

QCyTnZ_4zy5lDO945IwSmP

Reference Book

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 517-519

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 12251-12253, 6918-6920

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