Is it trichotillomania? Hair pulling in childhood: a developmental perspective.
A cohort of children with hair pulling as the presenting symptom was followed up to enhance clinical understanding of the nature of hair-pulling behaviour in childhood. Thirty-eight children were clinically assessed for a diagnosis of trichotillomania, co-morbidity, co-existing habits and other relevant factors. Intervention consisted of a combination of behavioural strategies, self-esteem work, supportive family approaches, attachment-focused parenting models and medication. In this group of children it was difficult to define their symptoms as a clinical diagnosis of trichotillomania, using ICD-1O/DSM-IV. This article concludes that hair pulling, as a symptom in children, is a heterogeneous condition. It is useful to approach this issue from a developmental perspective. Our data warrant reappraisal of the diagnosis of trichotillomania in childhood. We explore the framework of a developmental continuum to understand and manage the problem of hair pulling in childhood.
Santhanam
Radhika
R
School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Cairns, Australia. Radhika_Santhanam@health.qld.gov.au
Fairley
Michael
M
Rogers
Maureen
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000145:classification; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D012649:Self Concept; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014256:Trichotillomania / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy