PICA relating to an adopted child from Romania

I adopted my now 5 year old daughter at the age of 25 months from an orphange in Romania where she lived since birth.  Medically, she is healthy but, developmentally she has been diagnosed with an Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Features and PICA.  She has been tested for lead poisoning and it came up negative.  She presently is in her 6th pre-school (having been kicked out of 5 others) and has what is known in Pennsylvania as "TSS Support" or "Wraparound".  She has no respect for adults, wants to do her own thing, is very smart but doesn't like the structure of a classroom and become quite angry and shows outward displays of anger (usually not violent) by throwing things as well as ripping up workpapers, etc., constantly has something in her mouth (e.g., paperclips, scizzors, papers, sneakers and whatever else she can get her hands on).  When I ask her why she is so disobedient, she replies that her brain told her to do it.  She doesn't show much remorse but will say she is sorry if asked to do so.  I am just beginning to read about PICA but want to know is PICA can also be connected to her other problems.  Should I be consulting with a child psychologist?  Neurologiest?  She will be entering Kindergarten in September and I don't know which way to go (parochial, private or public).  I live in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania public school district and it is has a deplorable reputation.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Jeane,

You should definitely be consulting with a pediatric mental health professional, both to clarify the diagnostic picture and to delineate in some specifics a treatment plan. Pica can be evident in young children across diagnostic categories. However, it tends to be more often associated with Pervasive Developmental Disorders and other types of developmental conditions. Your daughter will certainly need some form of special services, so it will be important that whatever school arrangement she enters have the capacity to respond to her needs.

[jeane]

Thanks for your help.  I already contacted a child psychologist and arrangement are being made for sessions.  If you have any specific suggestions, I would appreciate hearing from you.