Tammy, I deal with PICA on a daily basis at work. We have patients (developmentally challenged) that will eat ANYTHING and have to be watched closely. Some of them have one staff to watch only them which we call a one on one. They will swallow paperclips, screws, nails, paper, rocks, nail clippers, feces, silk flowers, candles, dirt, leaves......you name it. One patient has been hospitalized twice for swallowing paper towels and a latex glove. Needless to say she had obstruction of the bowels and was in horrible pain which made her very assaultive. Most of them are non-verbal so the only way they have to let us know something is wrong is to act out, usually with behavioral problems and aggression. Hence, that is how my neck was broken. We are responsible for protecting them when they are showing aggression so they don't hurt themselves or other patients. She got me before I could stop her and I was alone with her at the time. By the time I had gotten loose from her my neck had snapped. PICA is a very bad thing to deal with.