Trichotillomania (Compulsive Hair Pulling) and Compulsive Skin Picking

Trichotillomania is characterized by repetitive hair pulling leading to noticeable hair loss and functional impairment. This article considers the phenomenology, neurobiology, and treatment of trichotillomania. Animal models and human studies suggest underlying dysregulation of the brain circuitry involved in habit regulation, impulse control, and reward processing. Treatment studies are considered. These include behavioral (e.g., habit-reversal therapy) and pharmacological (e.g., selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors) therapies.