A COMPARISON OF TRICHOTILLOMANIA AND OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

The validity of conceptualizing trichotillomania (TCM) and obsessive-c ompulsive disorder (OCD) as separate and distinct diagnoses was examin ed in a study of 20 patients with each disorder A comparison of demogr aphic, psychometric, and clinical features between the two groups reve aled a number of statistically significant differences. Patients meeti ng the criteria for OCD scored higher on measures of psychiatric sympt omatology including ratings of obsessions and compulsions, depression, interpersonal sensitivity, general anxiety, phobic anxiety, and psych oticism. Patients meeting the criteria for TCM reported an earlier age at onset than those with OCD. Stressors associated with onset were al so significantly different between groups. These results support the v alidity of conceptualizing TCM and OCD as differing behavioral disorde rs.