National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

Trichotillomania

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
Attn: Marion Mealing,
9605 Medical Center Drive
Rockville, MD 20850
USA
Tel: (240)403-1901
Fax: (240)403-1909
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: (215)751-1810
Fax: (215)636-6312
Tel: (800)553-4539
Email: info@mhselfhelp.org
Internet: http://www.mhselfhelp.org

National Mental Health Association
2000 North Beauregard Street
6th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
USA
Tel: (703)684-7722
Fax: (703)684-5968
Tel: (800)969-6642
TDD: (800)433-5959
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
Tel: (703)524-7600
Fax: (703)524-9094
Tel: (800)999-6264
TDD: (703)516-7227
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
207 McPherson Street,
Suite H
Santa Cruz, CA 95060-5863
USA
Tel: (831)457-1004
Fax: (831)426-4383
Email: info@trich.org
Internet: http://www.trich.org/home/default.asp

MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay, WI 54301-1243
USA
Tel: (920)336-5333
Fax: (920)339-0995
Tel: (877)336-5333
Email: mums@netnet.net
Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/

Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
TDD: (888)205-3223
Email: ordr@od.nih.gov
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/Default.aspx

Locks of Love
234 Southern Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33405-3099
Tel: (561)833-7332
Fax: (561)833-7962
Tel: (888)896-1588
TDD: (561)833-7332
Email: info@locksoflove.org
Internet: http://www.locksoflove.org

North American Hair Research Society (NAHRS)
Dept. of Dermatology Medical Center Blvd.
Walke University School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, NC 27157
Tel: (336)776-2768
Fax: (336)776-7732
Email: amcmicha@wfubmc.edu
Internet: http://www.NAHRS.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.

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