A brief assessment of pica
A one-hour home FA plus mand training cut pica for an autistic teen—no clinic required.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Morris and team ran a short functional analysis in a family’s living room.
One autistic teen who kept eating non-food items took part.
The whole test plus treatment fit inside an hour—no clinic visit needed.
What they found
The quick FA showed pica was automatic—done for its own feel.
When the teen could ask for a snack instead, pica dropped fast.
Parents learned the steps and saw the change the same day.
How this fits with other research
Lord et al. (1986) did the very first pica FA 35 years ago in a large center.
Morris keeps the FA idea but shrinks it to a home visit for autism.
Slocum et al. (2017) also used DRA for pica, yet taught a throw-away move.
Morris swaps that for teaching the teen to mand, matching the same logic.
Thomas et al. (2023) later stacked response cost and other tools for a full year.
Their longer package builds on Morris—brief FA first, then add pieces as needed.
Why it matters
You can copy this one-hour model today.
Run a mini FA during your next home session.
If pica is automatic, teach a simple food or toy mand and reinforce it heavily.
You get a fast answer and a ready fix without extra staff or gear.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
AbstractThe settings and procedures described in published studies focused on assessing and treating pica may not be relatable or feasible for all practitioners. This brief report demonstrates a successful replication of modified methods for assessing and treating a 16‐year‐old diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder who engaged in pica. The study extended the existing research on pica in the following ways: First, it supported the utility of brief analysis methods, including brief functional analysis (FA) sessions, fewer FA sessions, and a preference assessment requiring less time to complete. Second, it described an FA for pica in a home setting. Finally, it evaluated the utility of differential reinforcement of alternative behavior in the form of mands in treating pica.
Behavioral Interventions, 2021 · doi:10.1002/bin.1811