Trichotillomania (hair pulling) in toddlers

Abstract

Although the clinical diagnosis of trichotillomania has been observed for more than a century, not until the last decade has there been a focus on this diagnosis in early childhood. This small case series focuses on the clinical evaluation of 10 toddlers, average of 26 mo., presenting at a specialty child and adolescent psychiatry clinic with hair pulling. Authors suggest that hair pulling in this age group might better be conceptualized as an anxiety disorder.