Kendra often has her hair in her hands and pulls at it. When she is nervous, she tends to pull some of it out, which helps her feel better. Most of the time she does not even realize she is doing this. Which diagnosis would Kendra likely receive?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Kendra's behavior of pulling at her hair and experiencing relief suggests she may have trichotillomania, a disorder characterized by recurrent hair pulling resulting in hair loss and significant distress. Body dysmorphic disorder involves preoccupation with perceived flaws in appearance, excoriation involves repetitive skin picking, and delusional disorder involves fixed false beliefs without support from reality.

Kendra Often Has Her Hair in Her Hands and Pulls