DUBAI // Imagine living with a rare disorder that drives a craving for inedible substances such as paper, soap, metal, charcoal and clay.

Elena-Maria Andrioti, of the Psychology Centre at the Carbone Clinic in Dubai, has come across patients suffering with the rare, impulsive and untreatable craving disorder called pica, an appetite for non-food substances.

And Ms Andrioti believed many more are hiding the disorder through shame.

“I have had a patient who reported having consumed glue and paper when she was 10 years old to ‘try it out’ and, sometimes as a defence mechanism to reduce her anxiety symptoms,” the psychologist said.

Ms Andrioti has had a patient who ate paper and tissue. “He claimed it was a hobby and that he enjoyed the taste.”

While she has treated a few patients with the eating disorder, she said many hid it for fear of humiliation.

“It is very difficult to find an exact prevalence rate of the disorder and it is very often unreported due to the shame of these unusual habits,” she said.

“Most of the research takes the form of specific individualised case studies, which is a huge drawback as it limits our ability to generalise these cases to the population at large.

“I believe there is a shame of reporting these unusual eating habits and behaviours and, most importantly, the stigma associated with mental health disorders in the region.”

Pica can occur in childhood, adolescence or even adulthood but childhood onset is most commonly reported.

“The most dangerous consequences related to pica symptoms are medical emergencies,” said Ms Andrioti.

“Of course it depends on the substance that is ingested but patients have reported to emergency rooms for poisoning, intestinal obstruction and acute weight loss. In extreme cases it can even be fatal.”

Pica can also lead to malnutrition, dental problems and obstructions, especially when people eat sharp objects.

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