What is ''Pica Pica''?

Given the risk of medical complications (such as lead poisoning) associated with pica, close medical monitoring is necessary throughout treatment of the eating behavior. Additionally, close collaboration with a mental health team skilled in treating pica is ideal for optimal treatment of these complex cases. read more

Pica is a psychological disorder characterized by an appetite for substances that are largely non-nutritive, such as ice ; hair (trichophagia); paper (xylophagia); drywall or paint; metal (metallophagia); stones (lithophagia) or soil ; glass (hyalophagia); or feces (coprophagia); and chalk. read more

The word pica comes from the Latin word for magpie, a bird known for its large and indiscriminate appetite. Pica is most common in people with developmental disabilities, like autism and intellectual disabilities, and in children between the ages of 2 and 3. read more