Diagnosis and Treatment of Trichotillomania
April 2011
in “
Neuropsychiatry
”
TLDR Behavioral therapy, N-acetyl cysteine, and olanzapine may help treat trichotillomania.
Trichotillomania, characterized by repetitive hair pulling leading to significant hair loss and impairment, was associated with co-occurring disorders and influenced by stress, emotional dysregulation, reinforcement, and genetics. Animal models and brain imaging studies suggested involvement of several brain regions. Although treatment data were incomplete, behavioral therapy, N-acetyl cysteine, and olanzapine showed potential benefits.