When was the first case of trichotillomania?

TTM was first described in 1889 by Hallopeau. It is currently ranked among the habit and impulse control disorders. Age at TTM onset varies from 9-13 years, and is more common in females, epidemiological characteristics consistent with our patient's.

When was trichotillomania first discovered?

Hair pulling was first mentioned by Aristotle in the fourth century B.C., was first described in modern literature in 1885, and the term trichotillomania was coined by the French dermatologist François Henri Hallopeau in 1889.

When was trichotillomania added to the DSM?

Although discussed in the medical literature for over a century (3), trichotillomania was not officially included as a mental disorder in DSM until 1987, when it was classified as an impulse control disorder not elsewhere classified in DSM- III-R.

What percent of the population has trichotillomania?

About five to 10 million people in the United States, roughly 3.5 percent of the population, meet the clinical criteria for trichotillomania--they must have noticeable bald spots from pulling their hair. Though, according to Mouton-Odum, there are many people who suffer from a milder form of the disorder.

Is trichotillomania developed?

Trichotillomania usually develops just before or during the early teens — most often between the ages of 10 and 13 years — and it's often a lifelong problem. Infants also can be prone to hair pulling, but this is usually mild and goes away on its own without treatment.

Overcoming Trichotillomania: The Power of Awareness | Aneela Idnani | TEDxFargo



Is trichotillomania an addiction?

Trichotillomania is not an addiction.

People with Trichotillomania do not compulsively pull their hair out in order to reach an altered state of consciousness, they do it because they have an uncontrollable urge to do so.

What is the main cause of trichotillomania?

Causes of trichotillomania

your way of dealing with stress or anxiety. a chemical imbalance in the brain, similar to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) changes in hormone levels during puberty.

Can you beat trichotillomania?

There is no cure for this disorder, but it can be successfully managed. Therapy by a qualified body-focused repetitive behavior practitioner would be the ideal method to deal with trichotillomania.

How do you break trichotillomania?

How to Treat Trichotillomania & Stop Hair Pulling
  1. Occupy Yourself with Something Else. People with more milder cases of trichotillomania may be able to stop pulling hair by simply replacing this repetitive action with something else. ...
  2. Recognize Triggers. ...
  3. Meditation. ...
  4. Pull Back or Cover Hair. ...
  5. Get Professional Help.


Does trichotillomania run in families?

Scientists at Duke University Medical Center have found evidence that trichotillomania, a psychiatric disorder that causes people to compulsively pull their hair, has a basis in genetics. Trichotillomania is an impulse control disorder that affects 3 to 5 percent of the population.

How do doctors test for trichotillomania?

How is trichotillomania diagnosed? Diagnosing TTM involves a combination of a physical exam, where your healthcare provider looks for visible signs of the condition. They'll also ask questions about your health history, current circumstances and anything else that might have a connection to a medical problem.

What category is trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling Disorder) is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013) under the new category of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders.

Is trichotillomania a form of OCD?

Trichotillomania is on the obsessive-compulsive spectrum, which means that it shares many symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), such as compulsive counting, checking, or washing.

Does hair pulling release dopamine?

In fact, that same article cited research studies showing that hair pullers experienced a rush of dopamine, the brain's pleasure chemical.

What is Rapunzel's syndrome?

Rapunzel syndrome is an extremely rare condition seen in adolescents or young females with psychiatric disorders consisting of a gastric trichobezoar with an extension within the small bowel. The delays in diagnosis are common since in its early stages, it is usually asymptomatic.

Is trichotillomania a form of anxiety?

Trichotillomania, also known as hair-pulling, is an impulse control disorder. It could be caused by anxiety and stress. It can coexist with an anxiety disorder. However, psychiatrists consider it as a separate illness and not an anxiety disorder.

What is the best medication for trichotillomania?

SSRIs and clomipramine are considered first-line in TTM. In addition, family members of TTM patients are often affected by obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. Other drugs used in the treatment of TTM are lamotrigine, olanzapine, N-Acetylcysteine, inositol, and naltrexone.

Does hair grow back after trichotillomania?

If Trichotillomania has been going on for years, it's possible that permanent baldness can occur, or dam-age to the hair follicle can lead to stunted hair growth. If a follicle has been damaged by hair pulling but not destroyed, it can take between 2-4 years to regrow a hair.

What is the most effective treatment for trichotillomania?

Habit reversal training.

This behavior therapy is the primary treatment for trichotillomania. You learn how to recognize situations where you're likely to pull your hair and how to substitute other behaviors instead.

What is on the end of a plucked hair?

When you pull out your hair "by the root," you may observe a transparent swelling called the "bulb." The area above the bulb usually seen on a plucked hair is the root sheath, the growing area of a hair. The size of the hair bulb on a plucked hair varies with the phase of growth the hair was in.

What causes trichotillomania in child?

The cause of trichotillomania is not known. For some children, trichotillomania becomes damaging and very difficult to control. Hair pulling can occur anytime but may become worse in stressful situations. Most children with trichotillomania feel shame, embarrassment or guilt about their hair loss.

Why is my 8 year old daughter pulling her hair out?

In young children, hair pulling will often come and go. In some kids, it disappears altogether, and in others it comes back over time, usually when there's an increase in sedentary activity, such as school. Stress, frustration, or peer problems can all exacerbate the problem. For some, it becomes a lifelong struggle.

Is trichotillomania caused by trauma?

We can conclude that trauma may play a role in development of both trichotillomania and skin picking. Increased duration of trichotillomania or skin picking was correlated with decreased presence of post-traumatic stress symptoms.

How does trichotillomania affect the brain?

The results of the analysis, published in Brain Imaging and Behaviour in June, show that patients with trichotillomania have increased thickness in regions of the frontal cortex involved in suppression of motor responses: the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) and other nearby brain regions.

Can drugs cause trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania can be a coping strategy for stress and anxiety or an obsessive behavior related to a psychological condition. Research suggests that drug use can also increase hair-pulling behaviors, and hair pulling may be a sign of a substance use disorder.