Trichotillomania Across Circuits: Neurobiology, Sensory Processing, and Genetic Insights
August 2025
TLDR Trichotillomania treatment is improving with new therapies, but challenges like stigma and lack of training remain.
Trichotillomania, affecting 1-2% of the population, is a neurobehavioral condition involving repetitive hair pulling, leading to hair loss and distress. Recent research highlights dysregulated reward circuits, abnormal sensory processing, and genetic factors as key areas of study. Behavior therapy remains the primary treatment, with new pharmacological approaches targeting glutamatergic and dopaminergic pathways showing promise where traditional treatments have failed. Technology-centered interventions are also expanding treatment options. Despite these advances, challenges such as stigma-driven underdiagnosis, limited provider training, and insufficient data persist. Future efforts should focus on addressing these gaps to improve patient outcomes.