Trichotillomania is considered a behavioral disorder and is characterized by the
recurring habit of pulling one's hair, resulting in secondary alopecia. It
affects 1% of the adult population, and 2 to 4.4% of psychiatric patients meet
the diagnostic criteria. It can occur at any age and is more prevalent in
adolescents and females. Its occurrence in childhood is not uncommon and tends
to have a more favorable clinical course. The scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes are
the most commonly affected sites. Glutamate modulating agents, such as
N-acetylcysteine, have been shown to be a promising treatment. N-acetylcysteine
acts by reducing oxidative stress and normalizing glutaminergic transmission. In
this paper, we report a case of trichotillomania with an excellent response to
N-acetylcysteine.
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