Taijha Gordon

Trichotillomania Disorder

                                 Trichotillomania is one of many that lie within the impulse control disorders. It is a disorder when someone has the irresistible urge to pull out his or her hair constantly. The constant hair pulling can be severe and causing balding to appear. Some think that this disorder is something one chooses to do but this lifestyle is not a choice.

          Trichotillomania symptoms that we look for is,

1.) How is this person feeling before realizing they have the urge to pull?

2.) Does the constant pulling make this person feel relieved?

3.) Do they feel satisfied?

4.) Do they feel any distress?

5.) Is this causing problems in their work or social life?

6.) Can you see any bald patches?, are there any motion injuries?

7.) Is the result of the pulling causing strange behavior changes?             

           Trichotillomania affects a person emotionally, socially, and causes problems within the family. When having this disorder it can cause painful isolation. One with this disorder can begin to develop fear of exposure, and even embarrassment that makes them avoid any medical care. 

                Trichotillomania is an unhealthy and dangerous lifestyle. There is a lot of time that is spent covering up the loss of hair. Although this disorder seems as if it is a phase, it affects 4% of people in our population and can become really serious because of the chronic and very difficult treatments. Trichotillomania happens to be common in the state of Louisiana and there are even salons open to treat this horrifying disorder. Any patient who suffers from this tragic disorder is to see a Relief Specialists to receive treatments, which can result in 4 out of 5 patients cured in just on session. These sessions can be a viable solution to this disorder.

Citations:

[1]: “Prevalence & Incidence of Trichotillomania”. RightDiagnosis.com 2013/02/12. Retrieved 2013/02/22

[2]: Chamberlain SR, Menzies L, Sahakain BJ, Fineberg NA (April 2007). “Lifting the veil on trichotillomania”. Am J Psychiatry 164 (4): 568-74

[3]: Bisson Jl, Sakhuja D. (2006). “Trichotillomanias”. Psychiatry 5 (7): 240-242.