Abstract

TRICHOTILLOMANIA WITH PICA AND OBSESSIVE SYMPTOMS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL OVERLAP

Nimisha Doval, M. S. Bhatia*, Aparna Goyal and Rashmita Saha

ABSTRACT

Trichotillomania (TTM) is a disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to pull one’s own hair, usually preceded by mounting tension and followed by a sense of relief. Common co- morbidities with TTM include anxiety disorders, more commonly OCD, mood disorders and substance use disorders. TTM is characterized by repetitive behaviour limited to hair pulling, so there seems to be phenomenological overlap between TTM and OCD. Pica is defined as the persistent consumption of nonnutritive substances like clay or mud. It has also been described as an obsessive spectrum disorder. We report an interesting case that had TTM, obsessive symptoms and pica that has not being reported.

Keywords: Trichotillomania, Pica, Obsession, Treatment, SSRIs.