Trichotillomania and personality traits from the five-factor model

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Trichotillomania (TTM) is a disorder characterized by repetitive hair pulling.
• Understanding predictive factors for TTM is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the predictive validity of personality traits for TTM diagnosis.
• To examine the relationship between personality domains and hair pulling severity, control, and style.

Main Methods:

• Study 1: Logistic regression analyzed NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) domains predicting TTM diagnosis in cases (n=54) and controls (n=25).
• Study 2: Hierarchical multiple regression assessed NEO-FFI domains predicting pulling severity, control, and focused/automatic styles in TTM cases (n=164).

Main Results:

• Neuroticism significantly predicted TTM diagnosis, with each point increase raising diagnosis likelihood by 10%.
• Higher neuroticism, openness, and lower agreeableness correlated with increased pulling severity.
• Neuroticism was linked to less pulling control and more focused pulling; openness was linked to more focused pulling.
• No personality domains predicted automatic hair pulling.

Conclusions:

• Personality traits, especially neuroticism, are significant predictors of TTM diagnosis, pulling severity, and control.
• Neuroticism and openness are associated with focused hair pulling, but not automatic pulling.
• Further longitudinal research is necessary to establish causality and the role of personality in TTM onset and progression.