What Causes Trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) sometimes referred to as hair-pulling disorder. An obsession is some sort of intrusive thought, and trichotillomania's obsession is thoughts of hair pulling. A compulsion is a repetitive behavior, and trichotillomania's compulsion is pulling out hair. Individuals with trichotillomania usually pull out the hair on their head, eyebrows, or eyelashes. Sometimes, the patient pulls at the hair of the armpits, legs, and pubic region. This disorder is most common in young women, but the reasons for this are currently unknown.