Trichotillomania: A 2003 Review
May 2003
in “
International Journal of Dermatology
”
TLDR Trichotillomania, a disorder where people compulsively pull out their own hair, often starts around age 12, is more common in adult females, and can be treated with behavior therapy and medication.
The 2003 review on Trichotillomania, a disorder where individuals compulsively pull out their own hair, found that it often starts in young children and adolescents, with an average onset age of 12 years, but can also begin in adults and the elderly. The exact incidence and prevalence were unclear. In a study of 59 preadolescent children visiting a dermatologist for alopecia, 10% were diagnosed with trichotillomania, and it was found to be more common in adult females. The cause of trichotillomania was unknown, with theories ranging from it being a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder to a manifestation of mild frustrations. It is characterized by irregular, nonscarring, focal patches of alopecia, most common on the scalp. Treatment varied with age, with behavioral therapy recommended for older children and a combination of pharmacotherapy and behavioral therapy for adolescents and adults.
