Exploring the lived experiences of individuals with trichotillomania: a descriptive phenomenological study

Trichotillomania (TTM) is a common psychiatric disorder characterized by a recurrent, irresistible urge to pull out one's hair. This disorder has widespread adverse physical, psychological, social, and emotional effects on the lives of those affected, yet these experiences are under-documented. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of individuals with TTM in Iran.

In this phenomenological study, 12 individuals with TTM (with a mean age of 26.1 ± 6.3 and consisting of seven women and five men) were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step method. Lincoln and Guba's (2004) criteria were used to ensure trustworthiness, and data management was performed using MAXQDA 2020 software.

The experiences of individuals with TTM were categorized into six main themes and 23 sub-themes. The main themes included The Compulsion Loop - Trapped in Repetitive Urges, Emotional Struggles, Identity and Socio-Cultural Pressures, The Body as Battlefield - Physical and Psychological Consequences, Journey Towards Recovery and Barriers to the path of recovery.

Individuals with TTM experience intense internal conflict with wide-ranging psychological and social consequences. They are trapped in this destructive behavior due to the immediate gratification derived from hair pulling and tend to conceal the disorder due to social stigma. While some individuals improve through self-regulation and coping strategies such as cognitive behavioral therapy and habit reversal training, others become trapped in a cycle of failure through self-sabotaging defense mechanisms. Increased public awareness, psychosocial support, and the provision of effective therapeutic interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and habit reversal training, are recommended to facilitate the recovery process for these individuals.