According to the TLC Foundation and the International OCD Foundation, the behavioral disorders Trichotillomania and Dermatillomania have had reported cases since the nineteenth century. Trichotillomania occurs within one or two out of fifty adults within their lifetime (“What is Trichotillomania?” 2017), and Dermatillomania occurs within one out of twenty adults within their lifetime (Fama, J.M., 2010). Despite the prevalence of cases over the past century, little research is dedicated to the disorders, and not much is known about them in terms of why these behaviors occur. Research has determined that these disorders have links to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and that there are genetic factors that can cause them. Keywords: Trichotillomania,
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However, patients have commonly reported that they pull their hair or pick their skin for anxiety relief, out of frustration, or out of boredom. They have also stated that they experience feelings of stress or anxiety before an episode, and have feelings of relief or satisfaction afterwards. Additionally, feelings of guilt or shame and attempts to cover hair pulling or skin picking have been reported. Patients tend to try and cover thinning hair with scarves or hats, wigs, or makeup, or cover sores and scars with makeup or layers of clothing. It should also be noted that while both are associated with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, patients usually pull their hair or skin for non-cosmetic reasons, although it has been reported. Both disorders have no certain demographic; they can occur in both men and women, and can occur withing any age group. However, women have a slightly higher prevalence of diagnoses than men, and cases usually begin during late childhood or early adolescence, often at the start of …show more content…
Both involve identifying thoughts, feelings and behaviors that are unhealthy, and both the therapist and patient working to actively change the negative patterns into more constructive behaviors. Trichotillomania is also treated via drug therapy. Patients are often prescribed SSRIs, or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, such as Fluoxetine (Prozac©), Sertraline (Zoloft©), and and Citalopram (Celexa©). Furthermore, N-Acetylcystine (NAC), a “cysetine derived food additive”, has been tested and available for prescription. It has been proven to prevent Trichotillomania, or “barbering”, in mouse models, and has also been effective in treating Trichotillomania in humans. (Vieira, G. de L. T., Lossie, A. C., Lay, D. C., Radcliffe, J. S., & Garner, J. P. (2017) Dermatillomania is treated with similar psychotherapies and medications, as both disorders are derived from the same category of OCD related disorders. While treatment can sometimes eliminate the disorders all together, it is not uncommon for cases to last several months or years, or even be lifelong. However, both psychotherapy and drug therapy treatments have been proven to effectively alleviate and manage the symptoms and behaviors of the
However, patients have commonly reported that they pull their hair or pick their skin for anxiety relief, out of frustration, or out of boredom. They have also stated that they experience feelings of stress or anxiety before an episode, and have feelings of relief or satisfaction afterwards. Additionally, feelings of guilt or shame and attempts to cover hair pulling or skin picking have been reported. Patients tend to try and cover thinning hair with scarves or hats, wigs, or makeup, or cover sores and scars with makeup or layers of clothing. It should also be noted that while both are associated with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, patients usually pull their hair or skin for non-cosmetic reasons, although it has been reported. Both disorders have no certain demographic; they can occur in both men and women, and can occur withing any age group. However, women have a slightly higher prevalence of diagnoses than men, and cases usually begin during late childhood or early adolescence, often at the start of …show more content…
Both involve identifying thoughts, feelings and behaviors that are unhealthy, and both the therapist and patient working to actively change the negative patterns into more constructive behaviors. Trichotillomania is also treated via drug therapy. Patients are often prescribed SSRIs, or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, such as Fluoxetine (Prozac©), Sertraline (Zoloft©), and and Citalopram (Celexa©). Furthermore, N-Acetylcystine (NAC), a “cysetine derived food additive”, has been tested and available for prescription. It has been proven to prevent Trichotillomania, or “barbering”, in mouse models, and has also been effective in treating Trichotillomania in humans. (Vieira, G. de L. T., Lossie, A. C., Lay, D. C., Radcliffe, J. S., & Garner, J. P. (2017) Dermatillomania is treated with similar psychotherapies and medications, as both disorders are derived from the same category of OCD related disorders. While treatment can sometimes eliminate the disorders all together, it is not uncommon for cases to last several months or years, or even be lifelong. However, both psychotherapy and drug therapy treatments have been proven to effectively alleviate and manage the symptoms and behaviors of the