Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder)

Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder) is recurrent, compulsive pulling of one's own hair (scalp/eyelashes/eyebrows), resulting in noticeable hair loss, with rising tension before pulling and relief or gratification during the act. It is classified as an obsessive-compulsive/related disorder. Treatment: habit-reversal training, stimulus control, and SSRIs; treat comorbid anxiety/depression.

Common Symptoms

Recurrent hair-pulling; noticeable hair loss; tension before/relief during pulling; shame; comorbid anxiety/depression

Causes and Pathogenesis

Anxiety, habit, and emotion-regulation difficulty produce recurrent hair-pulling as a tension-relieving behavior.

Treatment

Habit-reversal training; stimulus control; SSRIs; treat comorbid anxiety/depression

Preventive Measures

Stress management; habit-awareness; early CBT.

Department to Visit

It is recommended to visit the Psychiatry department; an appointment can be booked on this platform before the visit.

Warm reminder: The above information is for health science reference only and cannot replace professional medical diagnosis. If you have related symptoms, please seek medical attention at a regular hospital promptly.