title: Trichotillomania in childhood.
abstract: Trichotillomania is the irresistible urge to pluck one's own body hair. It is a chronic mental illness that imposes severe limitations on the patient's social, emotional, and occupational adjustment. A review of the literature is presented; the clinical picture, psychiatric implications, possible etiologic theories, and treatment issues are discussed. It is concluded that trichotillomania is a disorder with multifaceted pathology that is best overcome by an interdisciplinary approach to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hamdan-Allen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D014256:Trichotillomania / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy