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The Trichotillomania Impact Project in Young Children (TIP-YC): Clinical Characteristics, Comorbidity, Functional Impairment and Treatment Utilization

Child Psychiatry & Human Development volume 45, pages 24–31 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

The aim was to investigate clinical characteristics of young children with a hair pulling problem. Parents/caregivers of young children (0–10 years old) with a hair pulling problem (N = 110) completed an online survey. The majority reported that their child experienced mild to moderate impairment/distress due to hair pulling, and overall clinical characteristics were similar to adult samples, although some differences were noted (e.g., less awareness of pulling). We also compared preschool-aged and school-aged children within the sample. Symptom severity, pleasure during pulling and gender ratio remained stable across the age groups. The preschool-aged children demonstrated less impairment/distress, comorbidity, and treatment seeking; pulled from fewer body areas; and were less likely to be aware of the act or experience tension prior to pulling. In conclusion, clinical characteristics of childhood hair pulling are largely similar to adult/adolescent hair pulling problems, but there are some notable differences, particularly among pre-school aged children.

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Conflicts of interest

Dr. Franklin is currently receiving grants from the NIMH (# RO1 MH079377/RO1 MH077197) and receives book royalties from Springer Press. Dr. Woods is currently receiving grants from NIMH (#5 RO1 MH080966-02) and the Tourette Syndrome Association, and receives book royalties from Oxford University Press, Guilford Press and Springer Press. Drs. Franklin, Woods, & Flessner serve on the scientific advisory board of the Trichotillomania Learning Center. For the remaining authors none were declared.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2441 East Hartford Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53211, USA

    Michael R. Walther, Ivar Snorrason, Rachel Burkel & Douglas W. Woods

  2. Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA

    Christopher A. Flessner

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Martin E. Franklin

Authors
  1. Michael R. Walther
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  2. Ivar Snorrason
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  3. Christopher A. Flessner
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  4. Martin E. Franklin
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  5. Rachel Burkel
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  6. Douglas W. Woods
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Douglas W. Woods.

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Walther, M.R., Snorrason, I., Flessner, C.A. et al. The Trichotillomania Impact Project in Young Children (TIP-YC): Clinical Characteristics, Comorbidity, Functional Impairment and Treatment Utilization. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 45, 24–31 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-013-0373-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-013-0373-y

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