Abstract
The validity of conceptualizing trichotillomania (TCM) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as separate and distinct diagnoses was examined in a study of 20 patients with each disorder. A comparison of demographic, psychometric, and clinical features between the two groups revealed a number of statistically significant differences. Patients meeting the criteria for OCD scored higher on measures of psychiatric symptomatology including ratings of obsessions and compulsions, depression, interpersonal sensitivity, general anxiety, phobic anxiety, and psychoticism. Patients meeting the criteria for TCM reported an earlier age at onset than those with OCD. Stressors associated with onset were also significantly different between groups. These results support the validity of conceptualizing TCM and OCD as differing behavioral disorders.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychiatric Association (1987).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed. rev.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.
Barlow, D. H. (1988).Anxiety and its disorders. New York: Guilford Press.
Benarroche, C. L. (1990).Trichotillomania symptoms and fluoxetine response. Paper presented to 143rd annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, New York, May.
Christenson, G. A., Mackenzie, T. B., & Mitchell, J. E. (1991). Characteristics of 60 adult chronic hair pullers.American Journal of Psychiatry, 148, 365–370.
Christenson, G. A., Ristvedt, S. L., & Mackenzie, T. B. (1993). Identification of trichotillomania cue profiles.Behaviour Research and Therapy, 31, 315–320.
Derogatis, L. R., Lipman, R. S., & Covi, L. (1973). SCL-90: An outpatient psychiatric rating scale-preliminary report.Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 9, 13–28.
Fontaine, R., & Chouinard, G. (1986). An open clinical trial of fluoxetine in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder.Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 6, 98–101.
Friman, P. C., Finney, J. W., & Christopherson, E. R. (1984). Behavioral treatment of trichotillomania: An evaluative review.Behavior Therapy, 15, 249–265.
Greist, J. H., Jefferson, J. W., & Rosenfeld, R. (1990). Clomipramine and obsessive-compulsive disorder: A placebo-controlled double-blind study in 32 patients.Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 57, 292–297.
Insel, T. R., & Akiskal, H. S. (1986). Obsessive-compulsive disorder with psychotic features: A phenomenology analysis.American Journal of Psychiatry, 143, 1527–1533.
Insel, T. R., Murphy, D. L., & Cohen, R. M. (1983). Obsessive-compulsive disorder. A double-blind trial of clomipramine and clorgyline.Archives of General Psychiatry, 40, 605–612.
Jenike, M. A. (1989). Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.New England Journal of Medicine, 321, 539–541.
Krishnan, K. R., Davidson, J. R., & Guajardo, C. (1985). Trichotillomania: A review.Comprehensive Psychiatry, 26, 123–128.
Mayfield, D., Mcleod, G., & Hall, P. (1974). The CAGE questionnaire: Validation of a new alcoholism instrument.American Journal of Psychiatry, 131, 1121–1123.
Phillippopoulos, G. S. (1961). A case of trichotillomania.Acta Psychotherapy, 9, 304–312.
Rasmussen, S. A., & Eisen, J. L. (1988). Epidemiology and clinical features of obsessive-compulsive disorder. In M. L. Baer & W. Minichiello, (Eds.),Obsessive-compulsive disorders: Theory and management. Chicago: Year Book Medical.
Rasmussen, S. A., & Tsuang, M. T. (1986). DSM-III obsessive-compulsive disorder: Clinical characteristics and family history.American Journal of Psychiatry, 143, 317–322.
Singh, A. N., & Maguire, J. (1989). Trichotillomania and incest.British Journal of Psychiatry, 155, 108–110.
Stanley, M. A., Swann, A. C., Bowers, T. C., Davis, M. L., & Taylor, D. J. (1992). A comparison of clinical features in trichotillomania and obsessive-compulsive disorder.Behaviour Research and Therapy, 30, 39–44.
Swedo, S. E., Leonard, H. L., Rapoport, J. L., Lenane, M. C., Golderger, E. L., & Cheslow, D. L. (1989). A double blind comparison of clomipramine and desipramine in the treatment of trichotillomania (hairpulling).New England Journal of Medicine, 321, 497–500.
Thyer, B. A., Parrish, R. T., Curtis, G. C., Nesse, R. M., & Cameron, O. G. (1985). Ages of onset of DSM-III anxiety disorders.Comprehensive Psychiatry, 26, 113–122.
Turner, S. M., & Beidel, D. C. (1988).Treating obsessive-compulsive disorder. New York: Pergamon Press.
Wolpe, J., & Lang, P. (1969).Fear Survey Schedule. San Diego, CA: Educational and Industrial Testing Service.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Portions of this paper were presented at the annual meeting of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (March 1992) in Dallas, TX, and at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (May 1992) in Washington, DC.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Himle, J.A., Bordnick, P.S. & Thyer, B.A. A comparison of trichotillomania and obsessive-compulsive disorder. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 17, 251–260 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02229301
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02229301