The phenomenon of trichotillomania, or hair pulling, has been observed for centuries. The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates noted hair pulling as one of the many symptoms that the physician was advised to assess as a routine matter. In our present time and culture, Apulling oneAs hair outA is more typically referred to in the context of depression, frustration, boredom, or other emotional turmoil. In truth, hair pulling is a highly prevalent behavior that may be associated with significant morbidity. Edited by experts in the field, Trichotillomania addresses the importance of the study of hair pulling from both a clinical and a research perspective. Documenting the clinical phenomenology, morbidity, and management of trichotillomania, it discusses the phenomenology of childhood trichotillomania, providing a comprehensive description of its symptoms and sequelae. Of particular value for the clinician are contributions on the assessment of trichotillomania and a detailed cognitive-behavioral treatment plan. The uses of medication, the place of a psychodynamic perspective, the value of behavioral interventions, and the role of hypnotherapy are also thoroughly discussed. This discerning text further documents the significance of research on trichotillomania for obtaining a broader understanding of complex brain-behavior relationships. While recent research has suggested that hair pulling lies on the spectrum of obsessive-compulsive disorder, a range of evidence is presented that indicates important differences between trichotillomania and OCD. As such, attention by clinicians to hair pulling may be of enormous value to patients, whose condition was previously unrecognized, while leading to a better understanding of the range of OCD-like disorders.
Dan J Stein is Professor and Chair of the Dept of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of Cape Town, Director of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit on Anxiety Disorders, and Visiting Professor of Psychiatry at Mt. Sinai Medical School in New York.
Dan did his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Cape Town, and his doctorate (in the area of clinical neuroscience) at the University of Stellenbosch. He trained in psychiatry, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship (in the area of psychopharmacology) at Columbia University. His training also includes a doctorate in philosophy.
Dan's research focuses on the psychobiology and management of the anxiety disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety disorder. His work ranges from basic neuroscience through to epidemiological and cross-cultural research. He is particularly enthusiastic about the possibility of clinical practice and scientific research that integrates theoretical concepts and empirical data across these different levels.
Dan's work has been continuously funded by extramural grants for close to 20 years. He has authored or edited over 25 volumes, including "Cognitive-Affective Neuroscience of Mood and Anxiety Disorders", and "The Philosophy of Psychopharmacology: Smart Pills, Happy Pills, Pep Pills". He has contributed to many articles and chapters. He is a recipient of CINP's Max Hamilton Memorial Award for his contribution to psychopharmacology.
