The range of strategies to which people resort as a source of a relief when being under severe emotional distress is vast and barely measurable. However, while some of these strategies are legitimate and effective, others are downright harmful and indicative of a mental health issue, as Corey (2015) warns. Trichotillomania, or the urge to pull out hair when experiencing anxiety or a panic attack is one of the latter (Lee et al., 2020). Though the disorder is not as common as other types of anxiety, it still affects a substantial number of people (Lee et al., 2020). Therefore, developing a framework for helping patients overcome their unhealthy habits and develop a more productive stress management technique is vital.
The problem of trichotillomania manifests itself by a change in the patient’s behavior, specifically, the rapidly developing propensity toward pulling one’s hair out when experiencing anxiety or similarly adverse emotions. Remarkably, apart from pulling the hair out, symptoms of trichotillomania may include chewing or biting puled-out hair (Lee et al., 2020). As a rule, the symptoms in question occur once a patient experiences distress or other strong feelings.
The phenomenon of trichotillomania can be detected by applying an evaluation tool for determining the intensity of the patient’s behaviors and possession with air pulling when being under the pressure of conflicting or negative emotions. Known as the Psychiatric Institute Trichotillomania Scale (PITS), the specified instrument has been developed specifically for the purpose of detecting the intensity and severity of a trichotillomania case (Lee et al., 2020). The specified tool is represented as a clinical interview that allows determining the frequency and intensity of hair pulling (Lee et al., 2020). Evaluating the tool, one must give it credit for its broad application and the opportunity to cover a plethora of factors that may cause a patient to engage in trichotillomania (Lee et al., 2020). Specifically, the instrument is reported to contain “environmental, motoric, sensory, affective, or cognitive” aspects of trichotillomania development and the associated factors causing the problem to recur (Lee et al., 2020). Therefore, the integration of the tool helps locate the core reason for the patient to have developed trichotillomania, which, in turn, leads to the identification of strategies for removing the factors in question and, thus, lading the patient to recovery.
Remarkably, the tool in question also allows drawing the line between mechanical actions leading to hair pulling and the relevant outcomes, and intentional pulling of the hair as a response to the ostensible perception of one’s hair by others as a projection of one’s insecurity about one’s appearance. Specifically, the test helps determine whether patients pull their hair out deliberately, or whether they do so without taking account of their actions (Lee et al., 2020). As a result the test allows determining different mental health issues and, consequently, diagnosing different mental health concerns.
Introducing a patient with trichotillomania to a healthier strategy for managing anxiety issues and the related conditions inclining one to pull out one’s hair will help improve the overall rates of mental and physical well-being. For this reason, the integration of tools used to detect the presence of anxiety and similar concerns possibly entailing hair pulling should be considered urgently. Specifically, the application of the PITS technique must be viewed as essential since it guides a healthcare expert toward determining the root cause and the nature of the hair pulling issue. As a result, a mental health concern can be diagnosed, and a more adequate strategy for anxiety management can be introduced.
References
Corey, G. (2015). Theory and practice of group counseling (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Lee, E. B., Homan, K. J., Morrison, K. L., Ong, C. W., Levin, M. E., & Twohig, M. P. (2020). Acceptance and commitment therapy for trichotillomania: A randomized controlled trial of adults and adolescents. Behavior modification, 44(1), 70-91. Web.