IJRR

International Journal of Research and Review

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Year: 2024 | Month: May | Volume: 11 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 631-634

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20240573

Geophagia (Pica) Could Be Consideration a Substrate for Addiction?

Dr. Sambhu Prasad1, Dr. Sulagna Mallik2

1Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India
2Junior Resident, Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India

Corresponding Author: Dr. Sambhu Prasad

ABSTRACT

Features of ingestion of a large amount of soil or non-nutritive substance are found more frequently in children who spend a great deal of time outdoors as a feature of hand-to-mouth activities, although such behaviour is quite rare in adulthood. Geophagia is an intentional, chronic, and often non-addictive consumption of soil. It has a number of features similar to those of addictive disorders; thus, this case series emphasizes this view, challenging the classification of pica as an eating disorder.

Keywords: Pica, eating disorder, substrate of addiction

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