Trichotillomania: a case report

A 13 yr old Thai girl who suffered from trichotillomania for 2 mth is presented. The onset of illness began after her father's death in an accident causing tremendous changes in the family and her mother, who was barely educated, had to work as a maid. Resentful and ashamed the mother began to push the patient, the oldest child, up to her high expectation, to do housework and be a good student. The patient who was not prepared for this (spoiled by her father and she was not bright) became frustrated and began to pull her hair. The treatment was brief psychotherapy and the patient recovered.