Psychosomatics of Trichotillomania and Related States or Disorders

In a stress situation both authors lost their hair. Motivated by this decisive subjective experience they initiated a field study on people with hair problems. First preliminary results are reported. The total sample (n = 96,710) showed a variety of problems of various forms. First investigations concentrated on two subgroups. (1) Persons (n = 5,105) going daily to the hairdresser. Our data show that this behaviour has clear antidepressive effects. Economic comparisons especially with client-centred therapy are discussed. (2) Patients pulling out their hair (n = 68) were examined by a battery of projective tests. Finally, in a single case study, a depth hermeneutic approach revealed new specific and important unconcious constellations. Parallel to these first results the authors draw attention to the ubiquitous dilemma of the need for potent sponsors and the wish to be independent from their vested interests and on the influence of this ambivalence on research.