trichotillomania: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “trichotillomania” mean?
A mental disorder characterized by the compulsive urge to pull out one's own hair.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A mental disorder characterized by the compulsive urge to pull out one's own hair.
This condition is classified as an impulse control disorder and can lead to noticeable hair loss, distress, and social impairment. It is often associated with anxiety or depression.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning; usage is identical in both variants. Pronunciation may vary slightly.
Connotations
Neutral clinical term in both contexts.
Frequency
Equally low in everyday speech but common in medical and psychological discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “trichotillomania” in a Sentence
have trichotillomaniabe diagnosed with trichotillomaniastruggle with trichotillomaniaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “trichotillomania” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- trichotillomanic behaviour
American English
- trichotillomanic behavior
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; not applicable in typical business contexts.
Academic
Common in psychology, psychiatry, and medical research papers.
Everyday
Uncommon; used in mental health discussions or personal stories.
Technical
Frequent in clinical settings, diagnostic manuals, and therapy sessions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “trichotillomania”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “trichotillomania”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “trichotillomania”
- Mispronouncing with stress on 'man' instead of 'mei', or misspelling as 'trichotilomania' without double 'l'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While related, trichotillomania is classified separately as an impulse control disorder, though it often co-occurs with OCD.
Yes, repeated pulling can damage hair follicles, potentially causing permanent hair loss in affected areas.
Treatments include habit reversal training, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and sometimes medications like SSRIs.
It often onset in adolescence but can occur at any age, with higher reported rates in females.
A mental disorder characterized by the compulsive urge to pull out one's own hair.
Trichotillomania is usually technical/medical in register.
Trichotillomania: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtrɪkəʊˌtɪləʊˈmeɪniə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtrɪkoʊˌtɪloʊˈmeɪniə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Tricho' (hair) + 'tillo' (pull) + 'mania' (obsession) – an obsession with pulling hair.
Conceptual Metaphor
Hair as a tangible outlet for intangible stress; pulling as a coping mechanism.
Practice
Quiz
What is trichotillomania primarily associated with?