Allotriophagy in a Patient With Schizophrenia: A Case Report

TL;DR

A patient with schizophrenia repeatedly ingested non-food items, highlighting the challenges in managing this dangerous behavior and the need for comprehensive care.

Contribution

This case report emphasizes the need for multidisciplinary approaches in managing allotriophagy in schizophrenia.

Findings

The patient required multiple hospitalizations and surgeries to remove ingested foreign objects.

Psychiatric treatment adjustments failed to fully prevent the compulsive ingestion behavior.

The case underscores the importance of integrated clinical and social strategies for managing such patients.

Abstract

Allotriophagy, also known as pica, is an eating disorder characterized by the recurrent and compulsive ingestion of non-nutritive substances, such as metals, glass, and paper. This behavior may be associated with various medical and psychiatric conditions, being frequently reported in patients with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that impairs an individual’s cognitive and behavioral functioning, potentially leading to heightened impulsivity and risky behaviors, such as the ingestion of foreign objects. This case report aims to describe an episode of allotriophagy in a schizophrenic patient, discussing its clinical and therapeutic implications. The patient, a male with a prior diagnosis of schizophrenia, exhibited recurrent episodes of object ingestion, including pens, toothbrushes, cardiac monitoring electrodes, and glass fragments. During hospital admission, surgical interventions were performed to remove the foreign bodies, alongside adjustments to psychiatric treatment with antipsychotics and mood stabilizers. Despite these measures, the patient persisted in compulsive ingestion behavior, requiring multiple hospital readmissions. This case highlights the complexity of the clinical and psychiatric management of allotriophagy associated with schizophrenia, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary therapeutic approaches. Continuous reassessment of psychiatric treatment, psychosocial support, and containment strategies are essential to minimize risks and reduce the recurrence of this behavior. It is concluded that allotriophagy in schizophrenic patients poses a significant challenge to medical practice, necessitating integrated protocols that combine clinical monitoring, effective pharmacological interventions, and ongoing social support. Furthermore, the scarcity of longitudinal studies on the relationship between allotriophagy and schizophrenia underscores the need for further research to explore therapeutic alternatives and preventive strategies.

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