Dermatillomania, also known as excoriation disorder or skin-picking disorder, was first officially recognized as a psychiatric disorder in the most recent version of the DSM, the DSM-5. It is currently classified under the category of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, and is "characterized by the repetitive and compulsive picking of skin, leading to tissue damage" (American Journal of Psychiatry). The face, arms and hands are the most commonly involved areas, and individuals affected with this disorder may pick/squeeze/rub/bite at healthy skin, or minor skin imperfections or lesions like acne (DSM). The onset of skin picking disorder can vary from childhood into adulthood, however for many it begins during puberty in adolescence.
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Neurobiologist David Anderson gives an enlightening and incredibly interesting TED talk on how the brain is affected by different mental health conditions, the underpinnings of our emotional behaviour and provides some insight into how we can improve our psychiatric medications by better understanding the biology and functioning of the mind ... "Modern psychiatric drugs treat the chemistry of the whole brain, but neurobiologist David Anderson believes in a more nuanced view of how the brain functions. He illuminates new research that could lead to targeted psychiatric medications — that work better and avoid side effects. How's he doing it? For a start, by making a bunch of fruit flies angry" (Ted.com). For a brief synopsis of trichotillomania, including what it is, the basic facts about the disorder, the prevalence, peak age of onset and common therapies utilized to aid in recovery, check out the great infographic below from trichstop.com!
Put your knowledge and skills to the test with the case of a 16 year old male who presents with anger issues, including increased irritability and aggression, as well as trouble concentrating and learning in school leading to a decline in grades. He reports that he has been depressed for a few months, that his grandfather with whom he was close recently died, and that he cannot play football anymore because of a history of concussion. Can you determine the cause of his symptoms or come up with a treatment plan? "Angry, Inattentive, and Sidelined" by Ravi Shankar and Lauren Swager (Current Psychiatry) Anderson Cooper recently took part in a schizophrenia simulation to better understand what it's like experiencing and living with a mental health condition. Check it out below! "Mental illness often makes headlines after tragedies like last week's deadly shooting at Seattle Pacific University. A number of mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, can cause auditory hallucinations. It's important to know that only a tiny number of people who hear voices engage in violence of any kind. Anderson took part in an experiment to help people understand what others living with mental illness experience everyday. Anderson wore headphones that simulate hearing voices while trying to do everything from puzzles to simply interacting with people in the street" (CNN.com). It is fairly well-known that if a parent has depression, their children may be affected as a result, specifically the child's own emotional or psychological well-being can be negatively impacted. But what about if a child's teacher has depression? In the must read article, "When The Teacher Is Depressed", the impact of a teacher or day care provide's mental health on their students is explored using recent research. In addition to suggesting that students may develop behavioural problems and perform more poorly if their teacher is struggling psychologically or emotionally, the article also emphasizes the degree of stress teachers experience and the prevalence of burnout within the profession. Most especially, the article demonstrates the importance of providing teachers with more support and helping them develop better stress coping skills, in addition to bringing this issue further to light and giving teachers' mental health increased attention. To gain further insight into trichotillomania, check out the short 20 minute documentary "Girls On The Pull" which follows three young women from the UK who are affected by this mental health condition. In the documentary, the women bravely show the cameras how this disorder has physically affected them, in addition to providing an intimate portrayal of what it's like living with and experiencing trichotillomania including how it's affected their families, what it feels like, what they believe may have led to the development of the disorder, and the treatments they have tried in an effort to recover and move forward. Trichotillomania is a lesser known and less common mental health condition that falls under the category of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders in the latest version of the DSM. It is "characterized by the persistent and excessive pulling of one’s own hair, resulting in noticeable hair loss" (Medscape). The scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes are the most commonly involved areas, but the hair-pulling can occur anywhere on the body where hair grows. Though it is thought to only affect 1-2% of the population (DSM-5), and females are affected more than males by a ratio of 10:1, it can be a particularly devastating disorder. To get a better understanding of what it's like to have trichotillomania, check out the article "From Hair Puller to Hairdresser: Kelsie’s Life With Trichotillomania" by Kelsie Hanna, a truly powerful account of one person's experiences with this condition. To read more personal stories of those with trichotillomania, see:
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Supporting and enhancing students' and health professionals' knowledge and understanding of mental health and psychiatry
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