Chalk eating in middle Georgia: A culture-bound syndrome of pica?

Background. Although geophagia (earth eating) has been observed and documen ted in many areas of the world, the specific preference for consuming kaoli n is less well known. The ingestion of kaolin, also known as white dirt, ch alk, or white clay is a relatively common type of pica found in the central Georgia Piedmont area. Methods. We reviewed the literature, made informal contacts with Georgia ph ysicians, and arranged semistructured interviews with 21 individuals with a history of chalk eating; we gathered both quantitative and qualitative inf ormation. Results. Kaolin ingestion appears to be a culturally-transmitted form of pi ca, not selectively associated with other psychopathology. Conclusion. Kaolin ingestion appears to meet the DSM-IV criteria for a "cul tule-bound syndrome."