Carphology

Carphology or carphologia came from the Greek words “karphos” which means “straw” and “legein” which means “to collect”. It is the involuntary picking or grasping behavior of people who are in a delirious state. This aimless and semiconscious condition may also be manifested by those experiencing high fever, stupor, and exhaustion. For instance, some delirious patients are behaving as if they are picking and collecting straw. Carphology is also described as a lint-picking behavior since the patients may act as if picking lint from their own clothes or bed linens.