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Trichotillomania

Abstract

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NORD is very grateful to Samuel R. Chamberlain, MD, Senior Visiting Clinical Research Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, England, for assistance in the preparation of this report.

Synonyms of Trichotillomania

  • hair-pulling syndrome
  • TTM

Disorder Subdivisions

  • No subdivisions found.

General Discussion

Trichotillomania is an impulse control disorder characterized by an overwhelming urge to repeatedly pull out one's own hair, resulting in noticeable patches of baldness. The hair on the scalp is most often affected. The eyelashes, eyebrows, and beard can also be affected. In some cases, affected individuals chew and/or swallow (ingest) the hair they have pulled out (trichophagy), which can result in gastrointestinal problems. Trichotillomania causes significant emotional distress and often impairs social functioning. The exact cause of the condition is not known.

Organizations related to Trichotillomania

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