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The significance of repetitive hair‐pulling behaviors in eating disorders
Author(s) -
Zucker Nancy,
Von Holle Ann,
Thornton Laura M.,
Strober Michael,
Plotnicov Kathy,
Klump Kelly L.,
Brandt Harry,
Crawford Steve,
Crow Scott,
Fichter Manfred M.,
Halmi Katherine A.,
Johnson Craig,
Kaplan Allan S.,
Keel Pamela,
LaVia Maria,
Mitchell James E.,
Rotondo Alessandro,
Woodside D. Blake,
Berrettini Wade H.,
Kaye Walter H.,
Bulik Cynthia M.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.20770
Subject(s) - psychology , harm avoidance , perfectionism (psychology) , eating disorders , bulimia nervosa , novelty seeking , anorexia nervosa , compulsive behavior , trait anxiety , clinical psychology , anxiety , trait , association (psychology) , psychiatry , developmental psychology , personality , psychotherapist , big five personality traits , social psychology , computer science , programming language
We studied the relation between intrusive and repetitive hair pulling, the defining feature of trichotillomania, and compulsive and impulsive features in 1,453 individuals with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. We conducted a series of regression models examining the relative influence of compulsive features associated with obsessive‐compulsive disorder, compulsive features associated with eating disorders, trait features related to harm avoidance, perfectionism, and novelty seeking, and self harm. A final model with a reduced sample ( n = 928) examined the additional contribution of impulsive attributes. One of 20 individuals endorsed hair pulling. Evidence of a positive association with endorsement of compulsive behavior of the obsessive‐compulsive spectrum emerged. Hair pulling may be more consonant with ritualistic compulsions than impulsive urges in those with eating disorders. © 2011; Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 00:1–13, 2011.