Trichotillomani

Trichotillomania is a disorder with involuntary hairpulling of own hair. The self-infliction of the hairloss is often denied by the patient. Trichotillomania is described in non-psychotic patients with normal intelligence. Some of the patients are psychologically normal persons and some have various personality disorders. Psychoanalytic theories claim that the symptom has a symbolic meaning and that traumas in early mother-child relationship is of etiological significance, other theories find that hair-pulling is a result of frustration of basic needs, and regard it as a «habit». Trichotillomania is difficult to treat. Further investigations are needed to establish the Trichotillomania is difficult to treat. Further investigations are needed too to establish the effect of psychoanalytically oriented therapy or behavioural techniques or a combination as well as the possible effect of psychopharmacological treatment.