Authors
Dr. Rajmohan V, Consultant Psychiatrist, Elite Mission Hospital, Thrissur.
Abstract
Trichotillomania is a disorder characterized by chronic hair pulling that often results in alopecia. Co-morbid psychiatric problems are common in children & adults with trichotillomania.
Here we report a case of trichotillomania in a 28 year old man with schizophrenia. A 28 year old married, currently unemployed male from a low socio economic Muslim family with a 12 year history Schizophrenia- paranoid (suspicion, fear and hearing voices) presented in our clinic. He had a history of plucking his hair for the past 6 years resulting in a bald patch.
The patient admitted and was put on haloperidol 5mg and slowly increased to 15 mg, and by the end of one week, his psychotic symptoms came down and the patient no longer had any delusions or hallucinations, but he continued plucking his hair.
Keywords: Trichotillomania, Schizophrenia