Under-diagnosed Psychiatric Syndrome I: Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania was a chronic psychiatric condition characterized by uncontrollable hair pulling, leading to noticeable hair loss, primarily affecting the scalp and eyelashes. It typically began in childhood or early adolescence, with a lifetime prevalence of 1.5% in male and 3.4% in female college students, and women were 5 to 10 times more likely to be affected than men. Many sufferers concealed their hair loss due to secrecy and shame, resulting in delayed treatment. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors were the preferred pharmacological treatment, while behavior therapy involved habit reversal, exposure therapy, and response prevention.