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Pica in an eating disordered woman with multiple sclerosis: Impulse dyscontrol, compulsive symptom or self-medication attempt?

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Abstract

We report about a complex case of pica in comorbidity with multiple sclerosis and binge eating disorder. Pica is classified among the feeding and eating disorders of infancy and early childhood, but there is a debate in the literature about the psychopathology and classification of this behavior. Some authors emphasize the similarities with the obsessivecompulsive spectrum disorders, whereas others propose an interpretation of pica as an addiction or as an impulsive behavior. The clinical case that we describe provides a picture of impulsive and compulsive features that are very difficult to disentangle. It is noteworthy that hypercalcemia is reported to have a protective/therapeutic effect against multiple sclerosis and seems to increase the plasmatic levels of beta-endorphins. The nature, diagnostic classification, and functions of pica are a topic worthy of future investigation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 3, 35128, Padova, Italy

    L. Ceschin, V. Giannunzio, A. Favaro & P. Santonastaso MD

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  1. L. Ceschin
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  2. V. Giannunzio
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  3. A. Favaro
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  4. P. Santonastaso MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. Santonastaso MD.

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Ceschin, L., Giannunzio, V., Favaro, A. et al. Pica in an eating disordered woman with multiple sclerosis: Impulse dyscontrol, compulsive symptom or self-medication attempt?. Eat Weight Disord 15, e116–e118 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325290

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325290

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