From opera buffa to nosological chaos: pica

Authors

  • Adriana Trejger Kachani Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Instituto de Psiquiatria do Hospital das Clínicas; Nutricionista do Programa Mulher Dependente Química
  • Táki Athanássios Cordás FMUSP; HC; IPq; Coordenador-geral do Programa de Transtornos Alimentares

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832009000400006

Keywords:

Pica, non-nutritive substances, compulsive ingestion

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Pica is compulsive ingestion of non-nutritive substances. There is no consensus on its etiology but social, cultural, psychological, biological and behavioral factors seem to be involved. Pica prevalence is unknown as this behavior is rarely reported during visits. OBJECTIVE: To review pica-related information: causes, populations at risk, adverse effects, diagnosis, and treatment, among others. METHODS: Literature review carried out in MedLine (Index Medicus), SciELO and PubMed using the keywords "pica," "geophagy," "amylophagia," among others. RESULTS: This syndrome has supposedly a multifactorial etiology and its prevalence is indeterminate due to its difficult diagnosis. Pica patients should be cared by a multiprofessional team. Pica seems to be a common behavior associated to several psychiatric disorders. DISCUSSION: Pica needs to be further explored and better understood as a frequent comorbidity of other psychiatric conditions.

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Published

2009-01-01

Issue

Vol. 36 No. 4 (2009)

Section

Reviews of Literature

License

Once accepted for publication, the manuscript becomes permanent property of the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry. This copyright transfer subsumes exclusive and unlimited entitlement of the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry to publish and distribute the full contents of articles in whichever publishing medium, including press and electronic media, in Brazil and abroad.

Manuscripts are accepted with the understanding that the Editor and the editorial staff have the right to make revisions aimed at greater conciseness, clarity, and conformity with Journal style, of course without changing its content.

How to Cite

From opera buffa to nosological chaos: pica . (2009). Archives of Clinical Psychiatry, 36(4), 162-169. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832009000400006