Trichotillomania is the name of a disorder that consists in the inability to stop pulling one's hair - from the head, eyebrows, eyelashes. Sometimes the compulsion to pull hair out is accompanied by trichophagy, i.e. the compulsion to eat it. How does this disorder arise and can it be treated?

Trichotillomania - what is it?

Trichotillomaniais a disorder that, especially when seen for the first time, can shock, disturb, frighten and scare you away. The name of the disorder comes from the Greek " tricho " - hair and " till " - tear out. Trichotillomania is one of theobsessive-compulsive disorder , which is still not fully classified.

Trichotillomania can be accompanied by:

  • headaches
  • sleep problems
  • memory and concentration impairment
  • sometimes other physiological symptoms - nausea, abdominal pain.

Both children and adults can suffer from trichotillomania. However, the highest percentage of cases is recorded in the age group of 12–13 years. It is estimated that approx. 3 - 5 percent. the population may be affected by this disorder. In 90 percent. it is about women.

Trichotillomania - symptoms

The symptoms of trichotillomania are easy to spot - they are bald spots on the head, sparse eyelashes, eyebrows, or even their absence. Almost every person suffering from TTM hides their problem, tries to mask the changes in the body somehow and does not admit their problem to those around them. When diagnosing trichotillomania, one should take into account other conditions that may manifest themselves in this way, such as dermatitis or conditions where hair pulling is the result of delusions or hallucinations.

Trichotillomania - causes

The sources of trichotillomania are believed to include in chemical changes in the brain. Some scientists point to a biological basis, seeing the causes in gene mutations. Others associate TTM with depression and Tourette's syndrome, as well as with a traumatic separation from the mother (separation anxiety), abandonment, and the lack of proper emotional ties. The compulsion to pull hair out may also be the result of sexual violence and emotions. The path of the disorder can be opened by a traumatic experience.

Today scientists are more and more willingthey lean towards the theory that certain genes may increase the likelihood of compulsive hair-pulling. Researchers at the Duke University Medical Center found that people with this disorder have two mutations in the SLITRK1 gene. They have not been found in families where TTM does not exist. The SLITRK1 gene plays a role in the formation of connections between neurons. Mutations can cause faulty connections, resulting in trichotillomania. The researchers emphasize, however, that mutations in the SLITRK1 gene are only responsible for a small percentage of it.

Trichotillomania - treatment

trichotillomania is treated with psychotherapeutic and pharmacological methods. One of the most effective methods is behavioral-cognitive therapy. Among pharmacological drugs, SSRIs are mainly used, i.e. antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors - this is because trichotillomania is caused by overactivity of the serotoninergic system. The support of loved ones is very important in the treatment process. People suffering from this condition often feel lonely, misunderstood and lost. They also often avoid body contact for fear of discovering hair loss. It is not uncommon for them to recover from the disease by changing the environment, relaxation, and biofeedback.

Category:

Psychiatry