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Case Reports
. 2023 Aug 16;11(8):e7800.
doi: 10.1002/ccr3.7800. eCollection 2023 Aug.

A case of trichotillomania and bulimia nervosa in a patient with adult-onset attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Rakshita Ramesh Bhat  1   2 , Faheem Vellekkat  2   3 , Ivany Lestari Goutama  2   4 , Praneet Singh Gill  2   5 , Gauri Kakar  2   6 , Hafsa Jabeen  2   7 , Krishnan Gireesh  2   8 , Vivek Sanker  2   9 , Umang Gupta  2   10
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Case Reports

A case of trichotillomania and bulimia nervosa in a patient with adult-onset attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Rakshita Ramesh Bhat et al. Clin Case Rep. .

Abstract

Key clinical message: Identifying any potential comorbidity such as bulimia nervosa (BN) and ADHD in trichotillomania patients is essential for a thorough treatment plan. Combining a multidisciplinary approach was found to be feasible and effective in the treatment.

Abstract: Trichotillomania is frequently considered an isolated disorder; nevertheless, emerging evidence suggests that other psychiatric conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), eating disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are often found to coexist. Several studies showed that eating disorders, such as bulimia nervosa, were found in chronic hair-pullers, while OCD was considered a factor in predicting the prevalence of eating disorders, as well as the severity of trichotillomania in the populations. While the relationship between trichotillomania and OCD has been quite well-documented, the evidence of its association with bulimia nervosa and ADHD remains limited. Here, we report a case of trichotillomania with comorbid bulimia nervosa, major depressive disorder, and ADHD.

Keywords: ADHD; bulimia nervosa; trichotillomania.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Physical examination of the patient's scalp showed patches of baldness over the head, mainly over the crown region.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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