Trichotillomania and skin-picking: a phenomenological comparison.
Although trichotillomania and pathological skin-picking are both characterized by repetitive self-injurious stereotypic behaviors, the former is classified as an impulse control disorder, while the latter is not given a specific diagnostic category in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition) [APA, 1994]. There are, however, few empirical data on phenomenological similarities and differences between these disorders. Patients with trichotillomania and pathological skin-picking were compared in terms of several demographic (age, gender), clinical (comorbid axis I and II disorders), and personality variables. Trichotillomania and pathological skin-picking were very similar in demographics, psychiatric comorbidity, and personality dimensions. Dissociative symptoms may be more common in trichotillomania than in pathological skin-picking. These data support the concept of phenomenological overlap between trichotillomania and pathological skin-picking. Future work to assess the implications of overlap for clinical evaluation and intervention in the two conditions may be useful.
Lochner
Christine
C
Department of Psychiatry, MRC Unit on Stress and Anxiety Disorder, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa. cl2@gerga.sun.ac.za
Simeon
Daphne
D
Niehaus
Dana J H
DJ
Stein
Dan J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior; D014256:Trichotillomania / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*