Pica Behaviour and Positive Behavioural Support: Best Practice in assessment and intervention

Background: Pica (the ingestion of non-edible items) is a dangerous and relatively common behaviour presented by people with intellectual disabilities.

Method and materials: Non-systematic review of studies that are compatible with Positive Behavioural Support related to the definition, prevalence, assessment and intervention for PICA.

Results: PICA has a high prevalence in people with intellectual developmental disabilities and is potentially dangerous and multi-factorial in its causation. A range of suggested intervention strategies compatible with PBS were found with reported reductions in PICA ranging from 70-90% with a clear indication that multi-element interventions are likely to be the most effective.

Conclusions: Whilst the results reported in the studies reviewed are encouraging, there remain concerns regarding the feasibility of the implementation of these interventions and the extent to which the risk associated with PICA need to be managed even in the context of relatively effective interventions.