Tricotillomania is a chronic impulse control disorder characterized by recurrent hair pulling, which can lead to significant hair loss. In adults and children, the most hair-pulling area is the scalp, followed by eyebrows and eyelashes. In trichotillomania, the person repeatedly pulls out his hair in a way that causes noticeable hair loss. .Immediately before the hair pulling behavior or during the attempt to resist this behavior, one may feel increased tension, and may feel pleasure, satisfaction or relief during hair pulling.
There is no known definitive cause of this disease. Some changes in the brain have been detected in patients. .The possibility of biological predisposition and genetic predisposition is high in patients.
This disease can be observed in people of all ages, ethnic groups, genders, nationalities and socioeconomic levels. While the disease is observed equally frequently in girls and boys during childhood, 80-90% of the cases are in adults. It is female. Its prevalence in the society is 1-3%.
A psychiatric disease is common with trichotillomania in adults. Personality disorders, depression, anxiety disorders and addiction are common disorders.
Hair pulling. It often occurs after unpleasant emotions and negative psychological sensations. These people reported that hair pulling behavior reduces tension, sadness, anxiety and anger. Although hair pulling is reinforced through the immediate emotional consequences, it has long-term negative consequences. Patients try to hide the change in their physical appearance. They make great efforts. Feelings of guilt, sadness, and low self-esteem after hair pulling behavior are possible consequences. The person is not happy with this disease, he wants to get rid of it. He knows that it harms his appearance and life, he wants to stop it, but he fails. As people who do not experience the disease say, "You can stop it if you want, you can't pull it out." It may be further exacerbated by the distress caused by not being understood.
Tricotillomania significantly affects functionality. The rates of significant distress and avoidance of social activities and sexual intimacy are very high. It is not a disease that can heal on its own. Consulting a specialist when noticed will prevent negative consequences.
Evaluation of the disease in its treatment. As a result, medication treatments, treatments for additional psychiatric diagnoses and cognitive behavioral therapy are the treatments applied.
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