Psychotherapy High Wycombe Psychotherapy High Wycombe - Last updated 25 April 2024

DSM Reference Home

DSM-IV and DSM-IV-TR:

Trichotillomania

Individuals with this Impulse-Control Disorder recurrently fail to resist impulses to pull out their own hair. Pulling hair may provide relief or gratification related to tension experienced prior to the act.

Diagnostic criteria for 312.39 Trichotillomania

A. Recurrent pulling out of one's hair resulting in noticeable hair loss.

B. An increasing sense of tension immediately before pulling out the hair or when attempting to resist the behavior.

C. Pleasure, gratification, or relief when pulling out the hair.

D. The disturbance is not better accounted for by another mental disorder and is not due to a general medical condition (e.g. a dermatological condition).

E. The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Based on the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition APA

The online Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders lists most of the major psychological disorders and illnesses and lists the criteria that must be fulfilled in order for a diagnosis to be made. This resource is not a substitute for proper professional psychiatric diagnosis.