From parent levels
ChapterVMental and behavioural disordersOpen
BlockF90-F98Behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescenceOpen
CategoryF98Other behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescenceOpen
A heterogeneous group of disorders that share the characteristic of an onset in childhood but otherwise differ in many respects. Some of the conditions represent well-defined syndromes but others are no more than symptom complexes that need inclusion because of their frequency and association with psychosocial problems, and because they cannot be incorporated into other syndromes.
Pica of infancy and childhood
Persistent eating of non-nutritive substances (such as soil, paint chippings, etc.). It may occur as one of many symptoms that are part of a more widespread psychiatric disorder (such as autism), or as a relatively isolated psychopathological behaviour; only the latter is classified here. The phenomenon is most common in mentally retarded children and, if mental retardation is also present, F70-F79 should be selected as the main diagnosis.