When eating inedible things: Determining the prevalence of pica disorder in a group of Polish adolescents aged 15-19 years.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of pica among Polish adolescents aged 15-19 years, to identify the most commonly consumed inedible substances, and independent factors that increase the risk of pica.

Methods: The study was conducted with the participation of 1,696 secondary school students from all over Poland. Multiple random sampling was used. A three-part self-designed questionnaire, which included recall questions, diagnostic questions for pica disorder and an assessment of mental state was used in the study. The study assessed the relationships between selected variables, characteristics for other eating disorders, and drinking (e.g. place of residence, level of physical activity, having siblings or level of parental education). The questionnaire was validated before the study.

Results: 3.2% of respondents ate starch in the form of raw flour, paper or tissue, 5.7% ate nasal discharge and 0.2% ate glass particles. 1.5% of respondents needed to see a specialist because they had eaten a non-nutritive substance. 10% of respondents characterized the severity of family stress above the 90th percentile, similarly, 9.4% of respondents described the high severity of school stress. 37.1% of the respondents engaged in self-injurious behavior.

Conclusions: Diagnostic criteria for pica were met by 5.7% of respondents. The most common non-nutritive substances consumed by respondents were: nasal discharge, raw starch and hair. Independent factors that increased the risk of pica included living in a city, the presence of self-aggressive behavior, the presence of suicidal thoughts and high levels of stress at school.