Trichotillomania

Abstract

Trichotillomania (TTM) is an impulse disorder in which patients chronically pull out hair resulting in noticeable hair loss. TTM is reported to affect as much as 4% of the population with the highest incidence in childhood and adolescence. The diagnostic criteria for TTM is likely to be revised in the planned fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) to remove the requirement that the patient has "tension" followed by "relief" or "gratification" after hair pulling. First-line therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy, with strongest support for the subtype habit reversal training. Among pharmacologic therapy, clomipramine has been most effective in clinical trials. However, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are most commonly prescribed despite the lack of data supporting their efficacy. This article reviews the clinical features and treatment options for TTM to enhance knowledge and clinical management of TTM.