The Hair-Pulling Problem: A Complete Guide to Trichotillomania (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "Trichotillomania (TTM), or Compulsive Hair Pulling, is a disorder that is only just beginning to be appreciated in terms of its complexity, the number of..." (more)
Key Phrases: sixty hair pullers, body through the toes, hair pulling occurs, New York, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Gary Christensen (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A must-have for anyone who has suffered in isolation." --Christina Pearson, Executive Director, Trichotillomania Learning Center
"The Hair-Pulling Problem really deserves the description self-help book. You can really use it to get control of your hair pulling and your life." --Patricia Perkins, Executive Director, The Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation
"A wonderfully clear and helpful book aimed at patients. A very helpful guide for patients who suffer from this painful disorder."--Michael A. Jenike, MD, Harvard Medical School
"An accessible, comprehensive, sensitive, and scientifically accurate look at Trichotillomania, a silent and potentially devastating disorder.... The lay public should read this book if for no other reason to understand the complexity and diversity of problems with which we as humans struggle and eventually overcome."--OCD Newsletter

Product Description

Trichotillomania, one of the family of obsessive-compulsive disorders, may afflict as many as 6 to 8 million people in the United States. Now, a leading authority on obsessive-compulsive disorders, Dr. Fred Penzel, has written the most up-to-date, comprehensive, and authoritative guide to this syndrome available, filled with reassuring advice for patients and their families. Endorsed by the Trichotillomania Learning Center, the leading advocate group for this disorder, this superb handbook includes all the information a patient or relative would need to understand this illness and to cope with it. Penzel provides a detailed discussion of causes and he reviews all the treatment options, describing the most effective medications and their side effects as well as the recommended cognitive and behavioral treatments. He shows patients how to design a self-help program and gain control of their compulsive behavior, how to prevent relapse, describes trichotillomania and its treatment in children, and suggests coping strategies for families at home and in public situations. He also provides a guide to all the resources available, including internet sites, recommended books, and videos, and outlines ways to start a support group. The appendix will include questionnaires, clinical rating scales, and the official DSM diagnostic criteria for the disorder, so readers can decide if they need to seek behavioral and possibly medical treatment. Dr. Penzel has helped patients with OCD and trichotillomania for over twenty years and is one of America's leading authorities on these disorders. Drawing on decades of hands-on experience, he has produced the most complete and scientifically accurate handbook available on this disorder, a comforting guide packed with information to help people with trichotillomania get well and stay well.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1 edition (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195149424
• ISBN-13: 978-0195149425
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #63,314 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dr. Penzel really understands, May 13, 2005

By	Brenda Luedtke - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a great book for those that suffer from Trich and for those that treat it or have a loved one with it. Dr. Penzel has a great knowledge of how suffers feel and I would highly recommend this book to everyone who has been touched by this disorder. Am looking forward to seeing what his next book is.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough and helpful, October 25, 2004

By	Trich veteran - See all my reviews

Fabulous book. Chapters on understanding the condition, the physiology of hair, and guides to finding a helpful therapist or to conducting behavioral modification theraphy yourself. We all know how hard this is, so seek any resources you can find -- this book being a great one.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I have read on the subject, October 25, 2006

By	Meg (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

My six year old daughter has been dealing with trich for several months now, and I have read a ton of books and internet sites. Dr. Penzel's book is the most comprehensive and helpful. Despite having only one chapter relating specifically to children, it is an extremely helpful one and the rest of the book is very informative about the disorder in general as well. His suggestions for motivating younger children have been particularly valuable to us. His advice to and compassion for parents of children with trich has been a lifeline for me-whenever I feel hopeless or that I am losing patience I go back and re-read it and it helps me a lot. I can't say this book or anything else has gotten trich under control for us yet (as Dr. Penzel explains, treatment can be difficult with such a young child), but it has definitely given us hope and gone a long way in helping us to cope with the disorder ourselves and not make things worse for our child.

As far as adults go, I don't have trich so I can't really speak to how helpful it would be for adults who do, but I will say that this is the only book I have read that offers lots of actual specific, practical advice in every area from treatment options to medications to diets, supplements and alternative therapies in an non-biased, factually-based manner. It is certainly the only book I have read that lays out a detailed, specific self-treatment plan. I highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with this difficult disorder.