title: The picas.
abstract: This article offers a means of defining and classifying various types of pica, and puts forward possible aetiological explanations for how pica may arise. When considering the question of treatment the aetiology of the disorder may be of fundamental importance.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D010842:Pica / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology; D012924:Social Conditions