What is Trichotillomania
The defining characteristic of the Trichotillomania is the recurrent and compulsive pulling out their hair (DSM IV - R), which produces obvious areas of baldness. Usually, but not always, scalp and face are the primary areas of eradication. Trichotillomania can still affect all parts of the body where there are hairs and hair.
The areas most usually affected are the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes. The less frequent include the pubic area, the perirectal region and other areas of the body in general. The person with trichotillomania can use his fingernails, tweezers, pins or other medical instruments. These snags may cause damage to epidermal permanenti.Di usual hair pulling may be preceded by high levels of anxiety and a strong sense of "urgency" in implementing the behavior. The tear is often followed by a sense of pleasure or relief. The action is usually practiced in solitude, often while watching television, while reading, talking on the phone, driving or was in the bathroom. An episode can be triggered by a state of negative mood or to be the answer to a period of stress, but can also occur in a moment of tranquility and relaxation. Sometimes this behavior can be issued on a voluntary basis, but more often it is quite inconsapevole.Le people with trichotillomania try to disguise the hair loss that accompanies the disorder with the use of hats, scarves or false eyelashes. Some even resort to tattoo permanent eyebrows. In severe cases, people with Trichotillomania can get to avoid social situations in an attempt to hide the eyes of other damage caused by pulling compulsivo.Come described above, the obsessive compulsive trichotillomania has characteristics similar to the DOC (OCD), the disorder dimorphism and body control disorders pulses such as pinching the skin (DSM IV - R). For these reasons these diseases are listed in compulsive spectrum disorders.
Treatment
The most effective treatment for trichotillomania is cognitive behavioral therapy. The techniques used are based on the principle that hair pulling and hair is a conditioned response to specific situations and events that the person who implements this behavior is often not aware of these triggers.
therapy addresses the problem in two stages:
1. the person learns how to identify the situations and events that trigger the behavior.
2. the person learns to use alternative behaviors in response to these situations and events.
Other therapeutic techniques may be used to combat noise in combination. The stimulus control and exposure with response prevention .
The first involves the use of specific physical elements such as "blocking agents habits" to prevent the possibility of pulling out.
The second, which is one of the main techniques for the DOC and the disorders of obsessive compulsive disorder, is more effective if the person with trichotillomania is already aware of the triggers of the behavior and has already achieved significant results with ' use of the former technique. Sometimes they can be prescribed, similar to those used for the DOC, in conjunction with cognitive behavioral therapy.
NOTE
is important to note that the above description does not replace a thorough and comprehensive evaluation conducted by an experienced cognitive-behavioral therapy or other mental health professionals. As with DOC, some people with trichotillomania may benefit from drugs and therefore may require assessment psichiatrica.La TCC evaluation made by professionals is essential to distinguish trichotillomania from other medical and psychological conditions. Although medical examinations may be necessary.
Adapted from OCD Center of Los Angeles - http://www.ocdla.com/
