Trichotillomania

Content provided by National Organization for Rare Disorders

Important

It is possible that the main title of the report Trichotillomania is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

• Hair-Pulling Syndrome

Disorder Subdivisions

• None

General Discussion

Trichotillomania is an impulse control disorder characterized by an overwhelming urge to pull out one's own hair, often resulting in patches of baldness. The hair on the scalp is most often affected. The eyelashes, eyebrows, and beard are also affected often. In some cases, affected individuals chew and/or swallow (ingest) the hair they have pulled out (trichophagy). The exact cause of trichotillomania is unknown.

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Resources

Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation, Inc.

PO Box 9573

New Haven, CT 06535

Tel: (203)401-2070

Fax: (203)401-2076

Email: info@ocfoundation.org

Internet: http://www.ocfoundation.org



Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health

1101 King Street

Suite 420

Alexandria, VA 22314

USA

Tel: 7036847710

Fax: 7038361040

Email: ffcmh@ffcmh.org

Internet: http://www.ffcmh.org



National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse

1211 Chestnut Street

Suite 1207

Philadelphia, PA 19107-6312

USA

Tel: 2127511810

Fax: 2156366312

Tel: 8005534539

Email: info@mhselfhelp.org

Internet: http://www.mhselfhelp.org



National Mental Health Association

2001 North Beauregard Street

12th Floor

Alexandria, VA 22311

USA

Tel: 7036847722

Fax: 7036845968

Tel: 8009696642

TDD: 8004335959

Email: infoctr@nmha.org

Internet: http://www.nmha.org



National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

Colonial Place Three

2107 Wilson Blvd.

Suite 300

Arlington, VA 22201-3042

ISA

Tel: 7035247600

Fax: 7035249094

Tel: 8009996264

TDD: 7035167227

Email: membership@nami.org

Internet: http://www.nami.org



NIH/National Institute of Mental Health

6001 Executive Blvd

Rm 8184, MSC 9663

Rockville, MD 20892-9663

Tel: (301)443-4513

Email: nimhinfo@nih.gov

Internet: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/



Trichotillomania Learning Center

303 Potrero St

Suite 51

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

USA

Tel: 8314571004

Fax: 8314264383

Email: info@trich.org

Internet: http://www.trich.org/home/default.asp



Locks of Love

2925 10th Ave North

Suite 102

Lake Worth, FL 33461

Tel: (561)963-1677

Fax: (561)963-9914

Tel: (888)896-1588

TDD: (561)963-1677

Email: info@locksoflove.org

Internet: http://www.locksoflove.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  4/25/2008

Copyright  1990, 1995, 2001 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

Last updated:	April 25, 2008