Pediatric Trichotillomania Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Cynthia R Ellis, MD; Chief Editor: Caroly Pataki, MD   more...
 
Updated: Apr 16, 2012
 
 

Differential Diagnoses

  • Anxiety Disorder: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Cynthia R Ellis, MD  Director of Developmental Medicine, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Munroe Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Cynthia R Ellis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Nebraska Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Holly Jean Roberts, PhD  Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Holly Jean Roberts, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: Autism Society of America, National Association of School Psychologists, and Psi Chi

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Connie J Schnoes, MA, PhD  Psychologist, Director of Training, Supervising Practitioner, Father Flanagan's Boys' Home, Boys Town

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Chet Johnson, MD  Professor and Chair of Pediatrics, Associate Director, Developmental Pediatrician, Center for Child Health and Development, Shiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, University of Kansas School of Medicine; LEND Director, University of Kansas Medical Center

Chet Johnson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Carrie Sylvester, MD, MPH  Senior Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Sound Mental Health

Carrie Sylvester, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Caroly Pataki, MD  Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, Division Chair, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California

Caroly Pataki, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York Academy of Sciences, and Physicians for Social Responsibility

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References
  1. Hallopeau M. Alopecie par grottage (trichomanie ou trichotillomani). Ann de Dermatolofie et Venerologie. 1889;10:440-41.

  2. Harrison JP, Franklin ME. Pediatric Trichotillomania. Curr Psychiatry Rep. Mar 22 2012;[Medline].

  3. Franklin ME, Zagrabbe K, Benavides KL. Trichotillomania and its treatment: a review and recommendations. Expert Rev Neurother. Aug 2011;11(8):1165-74. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  4. Franklin ME, Flessner CA, Woods DW, Keuthen NJ, Piacentini JC, Moore P, et al. The child and adolescent trichotillomania impact project: descriptive psychopathology, comorbidity, functional impairment, and treatment utilization. J Dev Behav Pediatr. Dec 2008;29(6):493-500. [Medline].

  5. American Psychiatric Association. DSM-IV: Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed. 2000:674-7.

  6. Christenson GA, Pyle RL, Mitchell JE. Estimated lifetime prevalence of trichotillomania in college students. J Clin Psychiatry. Oct 1991;52(10):415-7. [Medline].

  7. Diefenbach GJ, Tolin DF, Meunier S, Worhunsky P. Emotion regulation and trichotillomania: a comparison of clinical and nonclinical hair pulling. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. Mar 2008;39(1):32-41. [Medline].

  8. Meunier SA, Tolin DF, Franklin M. Affective and Sensory Correlates of Hair Pulling in Pediatric Trichotillomania. Behav Modif. Jan 12 2009;[Medline].

  9. Tolin DF, Diefenbach GJ, Flessner CA, Franklin ME, Keuthen NJ, Moore P, et al. The trichotillomania scale for children: development and validation. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. Sep 2008;39(3):331-49. [Medline].

  10. Franklin ME, Edson AL, Ledley DA, Cahill SP. Behavior therapy for pediatric trichotillomania: a randomized controlled trial. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. Aug 2011;50(8):763-71. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  11. Simon GE, Savarino J, Operskalski B, Wang PS. Suicide risk during antidepressant treatment. Am J Psychiatry. Jan 2006;163(1):41-7. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  12. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Textbook of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2nd ed. American Psychiatric Press; 1997.

  13. Bordnick PS. Trichotillomania: a social worker's guide to practice. Research on Social Work Practice. 1997;7(2):216-28.

  14. Christenson GA, Mackenzie TB, Mitchell JE, Callies AL. A placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study of fluoxetine in trichotillomania. Am J Psychiatry. Nov 1991;148(11):1566-71. [Medline].

  15. Clore ER, Corey A. Hair loss in children and adolescents. J Pediatr Health Care. Sep-Oct 1991;5(5):245-50. [Medline].

  16. Dimino-Emme L, Camisa C. Trichotillomania associated with the "Friar Tuck sign" and nail-biting. Cutis. Feb 1991;47(2):107-10. [Medline].

  17. Jacobs C, Piacentini J, McCracken J. Childhood trichotillomania: Presentation of 8 cases using habit reversal training. Presented at: the Annual Conference of the Association for Advancement of Behavior. November 1997.

  18. King RA, Scahill L, Vitulano LA, et al. Childhood trichotillomania: clinical phenomenology, comorbidity, and family genetics. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. Nov 1995;34(11):1451-9. [Medline].

  19. Kuzma JM, Black DW. Compulsive disorders. Curr Psychiatry Rep. Feb 2004;6(1):58-65. [Medline].

  20. Muller SA. Trichotillomania. Dermatol Clin. Jul 1987;5(3):595-601. [Medline].

  21. Nuss MA, Carlisle D, Hall M. Trichotillomania: a review and case report. Cutis. Sep 2003;72(3):191-6. [Medline].

  22. Penzel FI. Trichotillomania: Recognition and treatment. 2000;Available at: http://www.medscape.com. [Full Text].

  23. Reeve EA, Bernstein GA, Christenson GA. Clinical characteristics and psychiatric comorbidity in children with trichotillomania. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. Jan 1992;31(1):132-8. [Medline].

  24. Rothbaum BO, Ninan PT. The assessment of trichotillomania. Behav Res Ther. Jul 1994;32(6):651-62. [Medline].

  25. Stroud JD. Hair loss in children. Pediatr Clin North Am. Aug 1983;30(4):641-57. [Medline].

  26. Vitulano LA, King RA, Scahill L, Cohen DJ. Behavioral treatment of children and adolescents with trichotillomania. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. Jan 1992;31(1):139-46. [Medline].

  27. Walsh KH, McDougle CJ. Pharmacological strategies for trichotillomania. Expert Opin Pharmacother. Jun 2005;6(6):975-84. [Medline].

  28. Watson TS, Allen KD. Elimination of thumb-sucking as a treatment for severe trichotillomania. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. Jul 1993;32(4):830-4. [Medline].

  29. Wright HH, Holmes GR. Trichotillomania (hair pulling) in toddlers. Psychol Rep. Feb 2003;92(1):228-30. [Medline].

Previous
Next
 
A close-up picture of typical trichotillomania shows a combination of newly growing young hair, broken shafts, comedolike black dots, empty orifices, and vellus or intermediate hairs.
Typical geometric shape of trichotillomania in a 7-year-old boy. Smooth baldness of the scalp surface at this age is rare.
 
 
 
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2012 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.