title: The mind-body connection: an integrated approach to the diagnosis of colonic trichobezoar.
abstract: The relationship between trichophagia, the compulsive eating of hair, and trichobezoar, the accumulation of hair within the gastrointestinal tract, illustrates the importance of the mind-body connection. Physicians ought to be cognizant of this association in the evaluation of colonic obstruction as colonic trichobezoars, though uncommon, carry a high mortality rate. Incorporation of the psychiatric and dermatological examinations is a simple way to raise clinical suspicion for the presence of a trichobezoar, and to prompt early and appropriate surgical treatment. Even after resolution, treatment of the underlying trichophagia is highly recommended to prevent future complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0284, USA. Bharat.Kumar@uky.edu
authors.forename: Bharat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001630:Bezoars / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D011603:Psychophysiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome