trichotillomania

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trichotillomania

[trik″o-til´o-ma´ne-ah] an impulse control disorder consisting of an irresistible compulsion to pull out one's hair, the act being preceded by tension or an irresistible urge and followed by pleasure or relief. The diagnosis excludes such activities when caused by physical factors or by delusions or hallucinations. Specific patterns or rituals of hair pulling are often present.

trich·o·til·lo·ma·ni·a

(trik'ō-til'ō-mā'nē-ă), A compulsion to pull out one's own hair. [tricho- + G. tillo, pull out, + mania, insanity]

trichotillomania

(trĭk′ō-tĭl′ə-mā′nē-ə, -mān′yə)n. A psychiatric disorder characterized by the compulsive plucking out of hairs from one's own body, especially from the scalp, eyebrows, or eyelashes.

The compulsive pulling out of one's own hair—formally, chronic traction alopecia—to the point that it is noticeable and causing significant distress or impairment. It affects up to 2.5 million in the US, begins in childhood, and is more common in girls—female:male ratio is 8:1 in pre-adolescents and 3:1 in adults—peaking at age 12–13; it is a disorder of impulse control, linked to tics, and habit disorders—e.g., thumb-sucking—and attributed to unresolved psychodynamic conflicts, low self-esteem, stress, anxiety, depression
DiffDx Alopecia areata, tinea capitis, traction alopecia, loose anagen syndrome
Complications Patchy alopecia, suppurative dermatitis, permanent loss of hair, repetitive stress injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, gastrointestinal obstruction due to trichophagia, which begets trichobezoars
Management Hypnosis, behaviour modification, psychotherapy, IMAOs, amitriptyline, etc. have been tried with varying degrees of success; tricyclic antidepressants—e.g., clomipramine—may be effective short-term

trichotillomania

Hair-pulling, trichomania Psychiatry A chronic traction alopecia of childhood onset affecting adolescent and adult ♀, affecting ± 8 million–US; it is a disorder of impulse control, linked to tics, and habit disorders–eg, thumb-sucking, attributed to psychodynamic conflicts Management Hypnosis, behavior mod, psychotherapy, IMAOs, amitriptyline, etc have been tried with varying degrees of failure; TCAs–eg, clomipramine, may be effective short-term. See Obsessive compulsive disorder.

trich·o·til·lo·ma·ni·a

(trik'ō-til'ŏ-mā'nē-ă) A compulsion to pull out one's own hair. [tricho- + G. tillo, pull out, + mania, insanity]

trichotillomania

An apparent compulsion to pull out one's own hair, sometimes manifested by people with psychotic disorders or severe mental retardation. Anxious or frustrated children sometimes pull out hair.

Trichotillomania

An impulse or compulsion to pull out one's own hair.Mentioned in: Impulse Control Disorders

trich·o·til·lo·ma·ni·a

(trikō-tilŏ-mānē-ă) A compulsion to pull out one's own hair. [tricho- + G. tillo, pull out, + mania, insanity]

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Words related to trichotillomania

noun an irresistible urge to pull out your own hair

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