Key Symptoms of  Trichotillomania:

• The individual pulls out his or her hair regularly, which results in hair loss.
• The individual makes a consistent effort to stop hair-pulling.
• The individual’s hair-pulling causes him or her clinically significant distress or impairment in their everyday life.
• The individual’s hair loss is not due to another medical condition.
• The individual’s hair-pulling is not attributable to symptoms of another mental disorder

The first step in treating Trichotillomania and other Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) is enhancing your awareness of the nuances of these behaviors, such as the frequency, body sites, and the antecedents of the behaviors (in other words, what are some of the triggers that occur right before engaging in the pulling or picking behavior), as well as the thoughts and negative feelings associated with the BFRB. By obtaining a clearer and less emotionally driven understanding of a BFRB, you can begin to implement effective habit reversal therapy to decrease the frequency of the behavior and intensity of the urge to engage in the BFRB.

NIMH Trichotillomania Symptom Severity Scale (NIMH-TSS)