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Journal of Pediatric Psychology 5(1) pp. 37-42, 1980
© 1980 Society of Pediatric Psychology

research-article

Trichotillomania in Childhood: A Case of Successful Short-Term Treatment

Carole J. Litt1

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

1All correspondence should be sent to Carole J. Litt, Department of Child Psychiatry, Hanna Pavilion, 2040 Abington Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.

Trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling) in children is a complex symptom for which no single psychodynamic conceptualization has yet been identified. An important predisposing factor for this symptom appears to be an inconsistent, depriving relationship between mother and child. Some therapists have applied the concept of the "transitional" (soothing) object in treating young children with this disorder. A case of a 5-year-old retarded boy is presented in which hair pulling occurred in response to psychological trauma (threatened loss of and /or injury to a beloved grandfather). Treatment was carried out through the mother and consisted of her clarifying the traumatic events and the child's anxious and angry feelings about them. Child psychologists and pediatricians, as primary care-givers, should be aware that hair pulling can represent a traumatic neurosis and should take a careful psychosocial history before instituting any physical treatment or referring on to a dermatologist.


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