It’s rare to see anything about trichotillomania covered in the mainstream press. Trichotillomania is a disorder where people compulsively pull out their hair. It has been related to obsessive-compulsive disorder and goes along with other “bad habits” like biting fingernails. Treatment options are similar to other disorders: psychotherapy and medication (antidepressants).

There is little evidence to support drug treatment of trichotillomania, Woods noted. “Probably the best option right now is cognitive behavioral therapy,” he added. This is a type of psychotherapy in which a person learns to recognize and change negative patterns of thinking or acting.

People who suffer with trichotillomania often develop some social problems because the abnormality of their appearance due to the hair-pulling. Hopefully as research continues to progress, more efficacious treatment options will appear.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 18 Feb 2007
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.