BY:
Danny Duke &
Mary Keeley
What is Trichotillomania?
Trichotillomania is a disorder
characterized by the chronic compulsion of
pulling out one’s own hair.
The word trichotillomania is derived from
the Greek thrix (trich), hair; tillein (tillo), to
pull; and mania, madness or frenzy (mania).
Trichotillomania has historically been
considered a rare condition.
Trichotillomania
However, a college survey completed by
Christensen et al (1991) found that 3.4% of
college females and 1.5% of college males
engaged in clinically significant hair pulling
behaviors.
A similar survey by Rothbaum (1993) of
700 college freshmen, found that 11% pulled
their hair on a regular basis for other than
cosmetic reasons. (Rothbaum, 1993)
Trichotillomania
Researchers have reported various
prevalence rates depending on how strict a
criteria they used to define hair-pulling.
Nail biting
Skin picking
Thumb sucking
Knuckle cracking
Nose picking
Treatment
Both external and internal factors affect hair
pulling.
Five modalities are thought to work together to
maintain hair pulling (Mansueto,1999):
1. Cognitive (thoughts and beliefs)
2. Affective (emotional state)
3. Motoric (physical actions)
4. Sensory (sight, touch, etc.)
5. External (environment)
Any or all of these factors may be pulling cues.
QUESTIONS