J Korean Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry.
2009 Oct;20(3):115-121.
Past, Present, and Future of Brain Imaging Studies in Trichotillomania
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Neuropsychiatry, KyungHee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. mompeian@yahoo.co.kr
- 2Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
Abstract
- Trichotillomania (TTM) is a disorder characterized by repetitive hair pulling, frequently from the scalp and/or eyebrows, leading to noticeable hair loss and functional impairment. TTM remains a poorly understood and inadequately treated disorder despite increased recognition of its prevalence. We review available neuroimaging studies conducted in patients with TTM, covering structural and functional neuroimaging in turn. Data from patients' structural and functional neuroimaging results enabled us to identify the neural circuitry involved in the manifestation of hair pulling. Finally, we highlighted the future importance of neuroimaging studies in children and adolescents with TTM.
