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Worsening of Pica as a Symptom of Depressive Illness in a Person with Severe Mental Handicap

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Syed H. Jawed ,
Vallepur H. R. Krishnan ,
Verinder P. Prasher  and
John A. Corbett
Syed H. Jawed*
Affiliation:
Weston Hospital, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV33 9AJ
Vallepur H. R. Krishnan
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Birmingham University, Queen Elizabeth Psychiatric Hospital, Mindelson Way, Edgbaston, Birmingham
Verinder P. Prasher
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Birmingham University, Queen Elizabeth Psychiatric Hospital, Mindelson Way, Edgbaston, Birmingham
John A. Corbett
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Birmingham University, Queen Elizabeth Psychiatric Hospital, Mindelson Way, Edgbaston, Birmingham
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

The case of a person with severe mental handicap whose pica became uncontrollable during episodes of depressive illness Is described. Treatment of the depression with lofepramine markedly reduced the pica, and withdrawal of lofepramine led to recurrence. It is suggested that biological symptoms of depression should be monitored in people with severe mental handicap who show significant episodic worsening of long-standing repetitive behaviour.

Type
Brief Reports
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 162 , Issue 6 , June 1993 , pp. 835 - 837
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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