Understanding and treating trichotillomania: what we know and what we don't know.

This article reviews current issues in the understanding and clinical management of trichotillomania (TTM). After diagnostic considerations and epidemiology are discussed, a brief update on biologic and environmental precipitants is provided, and emerging research on possible TTM subtypes is discussed. Current strategies for assessing TTM and t heir applicability to clinical practice are reviewed, as is the current state of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments for the disorder. The article concludes with suggestions for future research and descriptions of the authors'research agenda.