Trichotillomania is more related to Tourette disorder than to obsessive-compulsive disorder
Abstract
Objective: Trichotillomania (TTM) is characterized by the pulling out of one’s hair. TTM was classified as an impulse control disorder in DSM-IV, but is now classified in the obsessive-compulsive related disorders section of DSM-5. Classification for TTM remains an open question, especially considering its impact on treatment of the disorder. In this review, we questioned the relation of TTM to tic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Method: We reviewed relevant MEDLINE-indexed articles on clinical, neuropsychological, neurobiological, and therapeutic aspects of trichotillomania, OCD, and tic disorders. Results: Our review found a closer relationship between TTM and tic disorder from neurobiological (especially imaging) and therapeutic standpoints. Conclusion: We sought to challenge the DSM-5 classification of TTM and to compare TTM with both OCD and tic disorder. Some discrepancies between TTM and tic disorders notwithstanding, several arguments are in favor of a closer relationship between these two disorders than between TTM and OCD, especially when considering implications for therapy. This consideration is essential for patients.
Related
- Reduced cortical thickness in obsessive-compulsive disorder and candidate molecular correlates
- Intensive cognitive behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Remission Trajectories During Low-Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: A 2-Year Naturalistic Follow-Up Study
- An Open-Label Multidose Psilocybin Intervention for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
- Patient-specific subnetwork connectivity predicts deep brain stimulation response in obsessive-compulsive disorder
BibTeX
@article{lamothe2026trichotillomania,
title = {{Trichotillomania is more related to Tourette disorder than to obsessive-compulsive disorder}},
author = {Hugues Lamothe and Jean-Marc Baleyte and Luc Mallet and Antoine Pelissolo},
journal = {Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1590/1516-4446-2019-0471},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05136851v1},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Trichotillomania is more related to Tourette disorder than to obsessive-compulsive disorder
AU - Hugues Lamothe
AU - Jean-Marc Baleyte
AU - Luc Mallet
AU - Antoine Pelissolo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
JO - Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry
DO - 10.1590/1516-4446-2019-0471
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05136851v1
AB - Objective: Trichotillomania (TTM) is characterized by the pulling out of one’s hair. TTM was classified as an impulse control disorder in DSM-IV, but is now classified in the obsessive-compulsive related disorders section of DSM-5. Classification for TTM remains an open question, especially considering its impact on treatment of the disorder. In this review, we questioned the relation of TTM to tic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Method: We reviewed relevant MEDLINE-indexed articles on clinical, neuropsychological, neurobiological, and therapeutic aspects of trichotillomania, OCD, and tic disorders. Results: Our review found a closer relationship between TTM and tic disorder from neurobiological (especially imaging) and therapeutic standpoints. Conclusion: We sought to challenge the DSM-5 classification of TTM and to compare TTM with both OCD and tic disorder. Some discrepancies between TTM and tic disorders notwithstanding, several arguments are in favor of a closer relationship between these two disorders than between TTM and OCD, especially when considering implications for therapy. This consideration is essential for patients.
SN - 1809-452X
ER -