Abstract
This resea rch foc uses on the psychodynamics of pica in childre n, viewin g the symp tom as an oral fixation or regression, The possibility is presented that psychoan alyti c th eory may be val ida ted and perhaps extended by study ing childre n an d an alyzing th e dat a sta tistically. Altho ugh the in vestigative metho d used is n ot psychoanalysis, the psychoan alytic th eory of pe rsonality is the frame of reference. Pi ca is a depraved appe tite with r esultant ingestion of nonfood substances. Pi ca has been kn own since anc ien t tim es and fo und to occu r on every con ti nen t (An ell and Lagercrantz, 1958; Cooper, 1957 ; Lau fer, 1930). In th e United Sta tes a t present, pi ca occurs most fr equently among the low-income Negro and white populations, and some Indian tribes; it is not so prevalent in the upperan d middlein come whi te population (Cooper, 1957 ; Gardner and T evetoglu,
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