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.
Pica; non-nutritive substances; compulsive ingestion
