title: Trichotillomania and trichobezoar: a clinical practice insight with report of illustrative case.
abstract: Untreated trichophagia secondary to trichotillomania is a potentially life-threatening condition. Taking a thorough family and social history, most notably with the aid of a genogram or family tree, can aid in including this disorder in the differential diagnosis. This case presentation describes a unique occurrence of untreated trichotillomania in a female adolescent that led to formation of a trichobezoar requiring emergent surgical intervention and follow-up psychiatric treatment. This case highlights osteopathic medicine's fundamental concept of treating the whole person rather than just symptoms by considering factors such as genetic influences in understanding disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Drexel University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19125-1012, USA.
authors.forename: Joel R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: Ellen H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Sholevar
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Baron
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001630:Bezoars / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010021:Osteopathic Medicine; D014256:Trichotillomania / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology