Examination of gender in pathologic grooming behaviors.
Trichotillomania and pathologic skin picking are pathologic versions of grooming behaviors. Although mentioned in the psychiatric literature for decades, little is known about how gender influences clinical presentation of these behaviors. Seventy-seven adult subjects (12 men) with trichotillomania or pathologic skin picking were examined on a variety of clinical measures including symptom severity, functioning, and comorbidity. There were more similarities than differences between men and women with these behaviors. Some significant differences, however, were that men with grooming disorders had a later age of onset of the behaviors, had greater functional impairment due to the behaviors, and were more likely to suffer from a co-occurring anxiety disorder. This study suggests that gender may be an important clinical factor when assessing and treating these disorders. Further research is needed to validate our findings and identify whether treatments should be specially tailored differently for men and women with grooming disorders.
Grant
Jon E
JE
Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical Center, 2450 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. grant045@umn.edu
Christenson
Gary A
GA
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D008297:Male; D009259:Nail Biting / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D014256:Trichotillomania / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy
Am J Psychiatry. 1991 Mar;148(3):365-70
1992841
Behav Modif. 2006 Nov;30(6):944-63
17050772
J Clin Psychiatry. 1999 Jul;60(7):454-9
10453800
Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2005 Oct-Dec;17(4):227-32
16402755
Psychosomatics. 1994 Mar-Apr;35(2):142-9
8171173
J Clin Psychiatry. 2007 Sep;68(9):1384-91
17915977