Childhood trichotillomania: Diagnostic algorithm and systematic problem-solving management using the 5W1H (kipling’s principle)

Abstract

Trichotillomania is an often underdiagnosed condition. Despite the fact that the amount of literature has been gradually increasing, still little is known about childhood trichotillomania. The Kipling method or 5W1H (“Who," “What," “When," “Where," “Why," and “How”) facilitates thorough documentation of each aspect of the child’s hair loss in a standardized way. This method can better equip clinicians to approach unexplained hair loss in a child. Increased knowledge of characteristics of childhood trichotillomania will aid to structure the history and diagnose the disorder correctly. The Kipling method may provide a better start in diagnosing and treating trichotillomania properly by trying to understand the hair condition in relation to the patient and his/her family/context. We proposed to apply a systematic information-gathering approach using the Kipling method ("5W1H”) to facilitate the diagnosis and management of childhood trichotillomania. Many dermatologists neither give much attention to the diagnosis nor treatment of trichotillomania, and this can be easily corrected.