Uploaded April 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Dean Alexander, Ph.D., discusses pica, the ingestion of non-food substances, which has received insufficient attention as a common, sometimes lethal, form of self-injurious behavior. Behavioral approaches to treatment, more often than not, fall short. Biological intervention, if supported, may hold out new promise.
Handouts are available for download (PDF) at autism.org/autism-pica
This is a joint presentation by ARI and the World Autism Organisation.
00:00 - Intro
2:12 – What is pica
5:22 – Study: Soda can and rubber ball
8:00 – Challenges with behavioral treatments
13:00 – Sensory stimulation and pica
14:20 – Pica prevalence and impact
16:08 – Study: GI symptoms and pica
17:30 – Study: Autism, GI symptoms, and pica
19:00 – Study: Pica prevalence in autistic adults
25:25 – Pica as a phenotypic subgroup
26:30 – Studies: polyvisol, vivinex, iron supplements, zinc and antioxidant therapy
29:46 – Metabolic profiles and phenotypic subgroups
31:57 – Why nutritional interventions
34:04 – Comprehensive vitamin-mineral interventions
36:10 – Dietary changes
38:21 – Study: Homeopathic treatment
44:28 – SMART interventions
Dean Alexander, Ph.D., discusses pica, the ingestion of non-food substances, which has received insufficient attention as a common, sometimes lethal, form of self-injurious behavior. Behavioral approaches to treatment, more often than not, fall short. Biological intervention, if supported, may hold out new promise.
Handouts are available for download (PDF) at autism.org/autism-pica
This is a joint presentation by ARI and the World Autism Organisation.
00:00 - Intro
2:12 – What is pica
5:22 – Study: Soda can and rubber ball
8:00 – Challenges with behavioral treatments
13:00 – Sensory stimulation and pica
14:20 – Pica prevalence and impact
16:08 – Study: GI symptoms and pica
17:30 – Study: Autism, GI symptoms, and pica
19:00 – Study: Pica prevalence in autistic adults
25:25 – Pica as a phenotypic subgroup
26:30 – Studies: polyvisol, vivinex, iron supplements, zinc and antioxidant therapy
29:46 – Metabolic profiles and phenotypic subgroups
31:57 – Why nutritional interventions
34:04 – Comprehensive vitamin-mineral interventions
36:10 – Dietary changes
38:21 – Study: Homeopathic treatment
44:28 – SMART interventions
