<P> Pica is a psychological disorder characterized by an appetite for substances that are largely non-nutritive , such as ice ( pagophagia ) ; hair ( trichophagia ) ; paper ( xylophagia ) ; drywall or paint ; metal ( metallophagia ) ; stones ( lithophagia ) or soil ( geophagia ) ; glass ( hyalophagia ) ; or feces ( coprophagia ) ; and chalk . According to DSM - IV ( Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , 4th Edition ) criteria , for these actions to be considered pica , they must persist for more than one month at an age where eating such objects is considered developmentally inappropriate , not part of culturally sanctioned practice and sufficiently severe to warrant clinical attention . It can lead to intoxication in children , which can result in an impairment of both physical and mental development . In addition , it can also lead to surgical emergencies due to an intestinal obstruction as well as more subtle symptoms such as nutritional deficiencies and parasitosis . Pica has been linked to other mental and emotional disorders . Stressors such as emotional trauma , maternal deprivation , family issues , parental neglect , pregnancy , and a disorganized family structure are strongly linked to pica as a form of comfort . </P>
<P> Pica is a psychological disorder characterized by an appetite for substances that are largely non-nutritive , such as ice ( pagophagia ) ; hair ( trichophagia ) ; paper ( xylophagia ) ; drywall or paint ; metal ( metallophagia ) ; stones ( lithophagia ) or soil ( geophagia ) ; glass ( hyalophagia ) ; or feces ( coprophagia ) ; and chalk . According to DSM - IV ( Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , 4th Edition ) criteria , for these actions to be considered pica , they must persist for more than one month at an age where eating such objects is considered developmentally inappropriate , not part of culturally sanctioned practice and sufficiently severe to warrant clinical attention . It can lead to intoxication in children , which can result in an impairment of both physical and mental development . In addition , it can also lead to surgical emergencies due to an intestinal obstruction as well as more subtle symptoms such as nutritional deficiencies and parasitosis . Pica has been linked to other mental and emotional disorders . Stressors such as emotional trauma , maternal deprivation , family issues , parental neglect , pregnancy , and a disorganized family structure are strongly linked to pica as a form of comfort . </P>
what is it called when you eat paper
what is it called when you eat paper
Pica xylophagia
Pica xylophagia