Trichotillomania Disorder

Trichotillomania is a mental disorder in which a person compulsively pulls out hair from all over his body, face and head. According to the Trichotillomania Learning Center, the condition is considered an impulse control disorder similar to chronic nail biting and skin picking. The severity of the disorder varies widely depending on the individual.

Features

• The main symptom of the disorder is the uncontrollable desire to pull out hair. When a person with the disorder does this, he feels some type of satisfaction or relief rather than pain. People with trichotillomania typically have bald patches or other visible hair loss, such as missing eyelashes or eyebrows. The compulsion to pull out hair is so strong it prevents a sufferer from his normal activities.

Causes

• Trichotillomania does not have a definitive cause. According to the Trichotillomania Learning Center, the disorder is thought to be genetic. People who develop the disorder tend to naturally find comfort in hair pulling. Their brains are thought to be inclined to use hair pulling as a coping tool. The disorder can occur after traumatic situations or even stem from physical symptoms like an itchy scalp. Trichotillomania generally starts in adolescence with little warning.

Effects

• According to the Trichotillomania Learning Center, the disorder can cause additional psychological problems in sufferers. Since trichotillomania is not thoroughly understood even in the psychological community, sufferers may feel confused and ashamed by their impulsive behaviors. They can end up spending so much time and effort hiding the disorder that they become isolated and depressed. The center also reports that it can cause family conflict because family members may become frustrated at the sufferer.

Treatment

• Trichotillomania disorder does not have a proven cure. The Trichotillomania Learning Center states that one of the most commonly used treatments for the disorder is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps sufferers learn new behaviors and coping mechanisms to implement when they have the urge to pull out their hair. The effectiveness of CBT varies by each individual case. No medications have been found to help with the disorder.

Misconceptions

• According to the Trichotillomania Learning Center, trichotillomania is often confused with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a mental condition in which people feel the urge to engage in particular or repetitive behaviors; however, trichotillomania is strictly hair pulling, while OCD can be any behavior. Another widely held belief about trichotillomania is that it's a form of intentional self-harm, but the center reports that the disorder is compulsive and sufferers do not engage in hair pulling to inflict pain.