Trichotillomania (TTM) is classified as an impulse control disorder (Dia 2008). This disorder is characterized by the repetitive pulling of one’s own hair from any part of the body; the individual would have noticeable hair loss as well as personal distress (Flessner 2010). The features of this disorder also include the tension or uncomfortable feeling—for example, itch or urge—prior to pulling; and some might gain sense of pleasure, gratification, or relief after the pulling (Dia 2008). Trichotillomania severely affects the sufferers; Diefenbach found increased psychological distress and decreased self-esteem and quality of life among the patients who suffer from trichotillomania; mood, anxiety, depression, substance use, and personality disorders …show more content…
Normally, TTM des not have many serious physical consequences except for hair loss, however, a large number of individuals with TTM has reported that they might also bite, chew on, and sometimes, swallow their hair; this would cause trichophagia—resulted from hairballs in digestive system that may later become serious health issues and a lot of the time, require surgery to remove the hairballs (Flessner 2010). Also, children with TTM show two distinct styles of their hair-pulling behavior, which are referred to automatic and focused pulling; automatic pulling is described as pulling that occurs mainly not in a child’s awareness; conversely, focused pulling is described as pulling in response to unpleasant emotions such as stress, anger, and anxiety, or an intense thought or urge (Flessner 2010). Thus, different pulling styles might require different therapies (Flessner 2010). TTM might also lead to other mental disorders; about 38% of the children who suffer from TTM had been diagnosed with at least one other mental health disorder (Flessner 2010). In adults, depressive and anxiety disorders are the most commonly reported comorbidities (Lewin …show more content…
Relatives who suffer from TTM have shown higher rate of hair pulling behavior in other family members (Chatterjee 2012). Or, if the behavior is not hair-pulling, it is likely to be some similar behaviors such as nail biting, skin picking, and thumb sucking; these also show genetic association (Chatterjee 2012). And this might be a possible cause of the development of trichotillomania; however, it still need to be researched in the future (Chatterjee 2012). Also, childhood trauma might be another possible cause of developing trichotillomania; with the assistance of Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, which assesses physical, emotional, and sexual abuse as well as physical and emotional neglect, Lochner found out that data showed that childhood trauma was significantly higher in patients who suffer from OCD and/or TTM than in healthy people (Lochner 2002). Both OCD and TTM sufferers scored higher than healthy people on emotional neglect; and the data did show an association between anxiety disorders such as OCD and/or TTM and childhood trauma (Lochner 2002). However, this association may not be generalizable to males; variables such as age and socio-economic status may also influence the results; thus, further studies are needed (Lochner
Moreover, Complex trauma is a leading factor in many health issues and diagnoses such as ADHD, ADD, Anxiety disorder, Borderline disorder, depression, bipolar, and PTSD. The list of possible diagnoses is endless, and finding proper treatment is a struggle. In 2013, a Developmental Trauma Disorder (DTD) was proposed, with a complete diagnosis description and criteria, for consideration for the DSM-5. But unfortunately, even with 20-year supporting research accompanying the proposal, the disorder still goes unrecognized as a formal diagnosis (Kilrain
In psychology, there are various schools of thought when approaching a particular psychological problem. Each may view the scenario from a different avenue of approach, and their methods and techniques used to treat the problem may also vary. This paper will discuss case scenario three, involving a man named John who appears to be exhibiting obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). With this example, the paper will discuss the various schools of thought in psychological theory, their techniques, and recommendations for treatment; to include how this knowledge could be applied to my current professional work.
Tics are the most common symptom of Tourette syndrome. A tic is an involuntary, repetitive movement of muscles usually in the face, neck, shoulders, trunk and hands (Diane, 2011, p.662). Symptoms of Tourette syndrome is often first noticed during childhood, between ages 7 and 10. Most children with Tourette syndrome also have other medical problems such as ADHD and OCD Tourette syndrome exhibit multiple behavioral symptoms including ADHD and OCD, which, like Tourette syndrome, are clinically diagnosed without testing (Chiu, 2013, p.406). According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, motor and vocal tics are classified as simple or complex (Diane, 2011, p.663). Simple motor tics include eye blinking, neck jerking, shoulder shrugging, head banging, head turning, tongue protrusion, nail biting, hair pulling, and facial grimacing (Diane, 2011, p.663). Some examples of complex motor tics are facial gestures, grooming behaviors, hitting or biting oneself, jumping, hopping, touching, squatting, retracing steps, smelling an object, and imitating the movements of ...
One out of every 360 children have Tourettes. Tourette’s is a neurological disorder, which means that it takes place in the nervous system. It affects males three to four times more than females. There’s no exact known reason as to why. Symptoms begin at ages three to nine, and typically, the first sign is excessive blinking. This
Durand, M., & Barlow, D. (2013). Essentials of abnormal psychology. (6 ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Tourette’s syndrome is a disorder where the affected individual will consistently exhibit “tics”. In the majority of cases these ticks are minor in character, it may just be the urge to blink, or make certain facial gestures. Less than 15% of individuals exhibit coprolalia, which is the unwarranted exclamations of profanities or other socially forbidden remarks. Perhaps those in our generation who are aware of Tourette’s syndrome have learned its symptoms through pop culture, which has glamorized (to some extent) the more severe cases of Tourette’s syndrome in YouTube videos or the animated satire of South Park. Most with Tourette’s syndrome have been diagnosed 5-8 years in childhood and experience the waning of the number and severity of tics by the time the graduate high school. For the most part, Tourette’s syndrome alone will not prevent an individual from success in the institutions of society, as it doesn’t affect the intelligence or capability of individuals. These cases, often called pure TS cases, are usually the exception. More often than not, sufferers of Tourette’s syndrome are more limited socially by common comorbid conditions like obsessive compulsive disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders.
American Psychiatric Association. (2009). Mental Disorders In Adults: Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder. In Cases From DSM-IV-TR Casebook and Its Treatment Companion. American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD for short, has affected numerous people; one being Jeff Bell, the author of the book Rewind, Replay, Repeat: A memoir of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. This book has much insight on OCD and touches many interesting facts that some people would never know prior to reading.
either have mania or depression, while other people can have them equally. Some episodes can
Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Rector, N. A. (2011). Abnormal psychology. (2 ed., p. 297, 321, 322,
Pollack, M. H. (2006). case study: "I can't stop my head". Medscape Psychiatry, Retrieved from http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/527758_4
Tourette's syndrome is a hereditary movement disorder. Its symptoms are by multiple motor and vocal tics (repeated muscle contractions). It is during the childhood and adolescence in which Tourette’s syndrome and its symptoms develop, usually between the ages...
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the comprehensive guide to diagnosing psychological disorders. This manual is published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and is currently in its fifth revision. Moreover, the manual is utilized by a multitude of mental health care professionals around the world in the process of identifying individuals with disorders and provides a comprehensive list of the various disorders that have been identified. The DSM serves as the essential resource for diagnosis of mental disorders based off of the various signs and symptoms displayed by individuals while also providing a basic reference point for the treatment of the different disorders. The manual attempts to remain scientific in its approach to identifying the underlying symptoms of each disorder while meeting the needs of the different psychological perspectives and the various mental health fields. The DSM has recently gone through a major revision from the DSM-IV-TR to the DSM-5 and contains many significant changes in both the diagnosis of mental disorders and their classifications.
The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1992. Print.
...e several different theories that try to analyze the stem of this disorder. OCD can be attributed to stress, which can intensify or prompt the symptoms. Experts on this medical field also identify brain dysfunctions such as encephalitis, head trauma, or some other brain disorder as a possible cause of brain abnormalities that may result in OCD. The patient’s genetics can also have a pertinent role in the developing of the disorder experts believe that a person can inherit a tendency to develop OCD under certain conditions. An unbalanced level of brain chemicals according to serotonin theory can also be attributed to a person suffering from OCD. Lastly, learned behavior, is also a crucial factor that needs to be analyzed. If a child is taught that he/she may be predisposed to fear, he/she develop compulsions in order to reduce said fears when negative thoughts occur.