Which option most accurately reflects Trichotillomania?

• A. Recurrent pulling out of hair resulting in hair loss
• B. Recurrent pulling out of hair resulting in hair loss; repeated attempts to decrease/stop
• C. Hair styling as a ritual
• D. Hair loss due to medical conditions

Answer: (B)

Trichotillomania is defined by recurrent hair pulling that results in hair loss, and importantly, the person makes repeated efforts to decrease or stop the pulling. The presence of those repeated control efforts signals clinically significant impairment or distress and helps distinguish this disorder from simple hair loss or nonpathological grooming.

The best answer includes both the hair-pulling with hair loss and the repeated attempts to reduce or stop the behavior, which are key diagnostic elements. The other options miss one of these components: styling as a ritual doesn’t capture the actual hair-pulling and resulting loss, and hair loss due to a medical condition doesn’t involve the repetitive, voluntary behavior and control efforts characteristic of this disorder.