Trichotillomania (hair pulling) in toddlers

Psychol Rep. 2003 Feb;92(1):228-30. doi: 10.2466/pr0.2003.92.1.228.

Abstract

Although the clinical diagnosis of trichotillomania has been observed for more than a century, not until the last decade has there been a focus on this diagnosis in early childhood. This small case series focuses on the clinical evaluation of 10 toddlers, average of 26 mo., presenting at a specialty child and adolescent psychiatry clinic with hair pulling. Authors suggest that hair pulling in this age group might better be conceptualized as an anxiety disorder.

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety Disorders / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Trichotillomania / diagnosis
  • Trichotillomania / epidemiology*