Are there different types of trichotillomania?

There are two types of trichotillomania. One is called automatic pulling and the other is called focused pulling. Kids with automatic hair-pulling often don't even realize they're doing it.


What are 3 symptoms of trichotillomania?

A sense of pleasure or relief after the hair is pulled. Noticeable hair loss, such as shortened hair or thinned or bald areas on the scalp or other areas of your body, including sparse or missing eyelashes or eyebrows. Preference for specific types of hair, rituals that accompany hair pulling or patterns of hair ...

Is trichotillomania an OCD or anxiety?

What is trichotillomania? Trichotillomania (often abbreviated as TTM) is a mental health disorder where a person compulsively pulls out or breaks their own hair. This condition falls under the classification of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).


What is the root cause of trichotillomania?

Causes of trichotillomania

your way of dealing with stress or anxiety. a chemical imbalance in the brain, similar to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) changes in hormone levels during puberty.

What is the difference between trichotillomania and excoriation?

Two distinct disorders falling under the OCD umbrella are trichotillomania (TTM—hair pulling) and excoriation disorder (skin picking). The former is specific to hair, while the latter is specific to skin. Root causes of both are the same, but the symptoms present in different locations on the body.


What is Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling) Disorder and how is it different from OCD?



What part of the brain does trichotillomania affect?

Other imaging studies of trichotillomania reported reduced gray matter in the left inferior frontal gyrus23 and reduced cerebellar volumes. More recently, whole-brain analysis identified increased gray matter densities in the left caudate/putamen, bilateral cingulate, and right frontal cortices.

Is trichotillomania caused by trauma?

We can conclude that trauma may play a role in development of both trichotillomania and skin picking. Increased duration of trichotillomania or skin picking was correlated with decreased presence of post-traumatic stress symptoms.

What is the best medication for trichotillomania?

SSRIs and clomipramine are considered first-line in TTM. In addition, family members of TTM patients are often affected by obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. Other drugs used in the treatment of TTM are lamotrigine, olanzapine, N-Acetylcysteine, inositol, and naltrexone.


Are you born with trichotillomania?

So, is trichotillomania inherited? Yes, it can be, but other factors also contribute to the condition. As research and studies continue, understanding of the causes of trichotillomania and other mental health disorders will increase and improve prevention and treatment options.

What is the most effective treatment for trichotillomania?

Habit reversal training.

This behavior therapy is the primary treatment for trichotillomania. You learn how to recognize situations where you're likely to pull your hair and how to substitute other behaviors instead. For example, you might clench your fists to help stop the urge.

Is trichotillomania mental health?

The American Psychiatric Association first recognised Trichotillomania as a mental disorder in 1987. The treatments for Trichotillomania are very similar to those for OCD, with the treatment found to be the most effective being a talking therapy called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).


What is similar to trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania, compulsive non-cosmetic hair pulling, and Dermatillomania, compulsive skin picking, are two of the many Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs), in which a person can cause harm or damage to themselves or their appearance. Other BFRBs include biting the insides of the cheek and nail-biting.

Is trichotillomania a chemical imbalance?

Similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), trichotillomania can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain or changes in hormone levels.

Who is prone to trichotillomania?

People typically develop "trich" around age 12, and 75 percent of those who have it are female, according to research findings. Their compulsive hair pulling often results in a "thin" appearance on the scalp, says Mouton-Odum. Some people also pluck other hairy areas, such as their eyebrows, eyelashes or body hair.


Can you have mild trichotillomania?

The Mentality Behind Trichotillomania

In some people, the disorder is mild and manageable, but for many the compulsion to pull out the hair is overwhelming, and, if not treated, can have serious consequences for health and well-being.

Which are the two types of trichotillomania?

There are two types of trichotillomania. One is called automatic pulling and the other is called focused pulling.

Is trichotillomania a form of Tourette's?

Trichotillomania is more related to Tourette disorder than to obsessive-compulsive disorder - PMC. The .


Can trichotillomania be stopped?

Therapy can help people overcome trichotillomania. The most widely used type of therapy is called habit-reversal training (HRT). It's a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In this therapy, people meet with a therapist to learn skills to help them reverse the hair pulling habit.

Is trichotillomania an addiction?

While hair pulling may be symptomatic of another mental health condition, Trichotillomania is actually considered its own disorder. People with Trichotillomania experience a strong urge to pull their hair out, and the act of hair pulling can become compulsive and addictive.

What vitamins help trichotillomania?

In addition to reducing the urge to pull, it is believed vitamin D supplementation significantly improved hair regrowth, which is often not seen after treatment with antidepressants or other medications alone. Studies have identified the use of vitamin D3 analogs to stimulate hair regrowth.


What kind of therapist treats trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania, also called compulsive hair pulling, is a very treatable condition. It is typically addressed through behavioral therapy.

What treatment has the highest success rate for trichotillomania?

Research has found Habit Reversal Training, a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), to be very effective for treating trichotillomania. It is the treatment of choice for this condition.

Is trichotillomania a manic disorder?

Bipolar disorder falls under the category of mood disorders while trichotillomania falls under the category of Obsessive Compulsive and Related disorders.


What medications can cause trichotillomania?

In one case, a 12 year old girl developed trichotillomania symptoms shortly after taking Adderall. The physician discontinued Adderall and an alternative medicine was recommended, with positive results. Other medications that have been reported to have similar results are Concerta and Ritalin.

Does trichotillomania release dopamine?

In fact, that same article cited research studies showing that hair pullers experienced a rush of dopamine, the brain's pleasure chemical.