Clinical outcomes of behavioral treatments for pica in children with developmental disabilities
Abstract
Pica is a potentially deadly form of self-injurious behavior most frequently exhibited by individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Research indicates that pica can be decreased with behavioral interventions; however, the existing literature reflects treatment effects for small samples (n = 1-4) and the overall success of such treatments is not well-understood. This study quantified the overall effect size by examining treatment data from all patients seen for treatment of pica at an intensive day-treatment clinical setting (n = 11), irrespective of treatment success. Results demonstrate that behavioral interventions are highly effective treatments for pica, as determined by the large effect size for individual participants (i.e., NAP scores ≥ .70) and large overall treatment effect size (Cohen's d = 1.80).
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Pica has been associated with GI problems such as irritable bowel syndrome and constipation.
“Pica has been associated with GI problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome and constipation”
From Gastrointestinal Issues and Autism Spectrum Disorder (2020) · cites this paper as [19]
Pica is reported as a problem in children with developmental delays, including ASD.
“Pica, the ingestion of non-nutritive items, is also reported as a problem in children with development delays, including ASD.”
From Gastrointestinal Issues and Autism Spectrum Disorder (2020) · cites this paper as [19]
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- Authors
- Call, N. A., Simmons, C. A., Mevers, J. E. L., & Alvarez, J. P.
- Affiliations
- University of Georgia (US)
- Emory University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Call, Nathan A.
- Venue
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Published
- 2015-01-31
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 2105-2114
- ISSN
- 0162-3257 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3432
- OpenAlex
- W2082835532
- Cited by
- 55
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 8.42
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Keywords
- pica, behavioral interventions, developmental disabilities, intellectual disability, children, self-harm, treatment effect size
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Behavior Therapy, Child, Developmental Disabilities, Female, Humans, Male, Pica, Treatment Outcome, Young Adult
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