Psychology Facts

▼ Trichotillomania ▼

》Trichotillomania (trik-o-til-o-MAY-nee-uh), also called hair-pulling disorder, is a mental disorder that involves recurrent, irresistible urges to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body, despite trying to stop.

》This condition falls under the classification of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). When it's severe, it often has extremely negative effects on a person's happiness, well-being and overall quality of life.

》TTM falls under the overall category of obsessive-compulsive disorder, but it has some key differences from OCD itself.

Obsessions. OCD involves obsessions, which are thoughts or urges that a person can't control and doesn't want. TTM doesn't involve obsessions.

Feeling of reward. When people with TTM pull out their hair, they often feel relief or other positive emotions. OCD doesn't involve positive feelings in that way.

》Signs and symptoms of trichotillomania often include:

Repeatedly pulling your hair out, typically from your scalp, eyebrows or eyelashes, but sometimes from other body areas, and sites may vary over time

An increasing sense of tension before pulling, or when you try to resist pulling

A sense of pleasure or relief after the hair is pulled

Noticeable hair loss, such as shortened hair or thinned or bald areas on the scalp or other areas of your body, including sparse or missing eyelashes or eyebrows

Preference for specific types of hair, rituals that accompany hair pulling or patterns of hair pulling

Biting, chewing or eating pulled-out hair
Playing with pulled-out hair or rubbing it across your lips or face

Repeatedly trying to stop pulling out your hair or trying to do it less often without success

Significant distress or problems at work, school or in social situations related to pulling out your hair

》These factors tend to increase the risk of trichotillomania:

Family history. Genetics may play a role in the development of trichotillomania, and the disorder may occur in those who have a close relative with the disorder.

Age. 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.

Other disorders. People who have
trichotillomania may also have other disorders, such as depression, anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Stress. Severely stressful situations or events may trigger trichotillomania in some people.

》Although far more women than men are treated for trichotillomania, this may be because women are more likely to seek medical advice. In early childhood, boys and girls appear to be equally affected.

》TTM is relatively uncommon. Research studies estimate it affects 0.5% to 3.4% of adults at some point in their lifetime.

》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.

TTM is a relatively straightforward condition to diagnose, but people with this condition often hide it out of shame or embarrassment. That can make it harder for your healthcare provider to diagnose this condition based solely on asking questions.

》Treating TTM often involves therapy, medication or a combination of both. Ongoing research shows some medications for other mental health conditions might help TTM, but more research is necessary before any specific medication becomes a part of the standard care.