Uncovering the Compulsion Behind Pica: A Case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Geophagia: A Case Report

The extended ingestion of nonfood substances like paper, ice, clay or soil – which is prohibited in some cultures – is known as pica. Pica – so named because of the magpie, which is known for consuming nonfood objects. Aristotle called this consumption of earthly things “Geophagia.” A 15-year-old displayed an obsession with consuming mud and wall paint. She has unsettling, intrusive thoughts about this behavior. She was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) with good insight with Pica, and she improved favorably to cognitive behavioral treatment and fluoxetine. Pica can manifest within the OCD spectrum and is frequently associated with nutritional deficits and stress. This example demonstrates effective selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment, confirming earlier research. Even if pica’s etiology and treatment plans are still unknown, it is possible to classify pica as OCD in those cases where there is no developmental impairment.