Temperament in Trichotillomania and Skin Picking Disorder

Abstract

Background: Trichotillomania (TTM) and skin picking disorder (SPD) result in significant psychosocial burden. Despite their psychological burden, risk factors related to the development of TTM and SPD remain still unclear. The present study assessed temperament in a large and well-characterized sample of adults with either TTM or SPD.

Methods: Adults (n = 146, aged 18-65 years), with TTM (n = 44), SPD (n = 30), and controls (n = 128) were enrolled. Participants completed self-report questionnaires to examine severity of TTM and SPD symptoms and temperament (Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire, TPQ). Group differences were characterized and correlations with other measures were examined.

Results: When compared to controls, those with TTM and SPD scored significantly higher on harm avoidance and its subscales, with TTM associated with higher scores than SPD. Additionally, those with TTM and SPD scored significantly higher on only one measure of novelty seeking (extravagance). In patients, higher TPQ harm avoidance correlated with worse hair-pulling severity, and worse quality of life.

Discussion: The temperament traits of TTM and SPD differed in significant ways from controls and TTM and SPD generally demonstrated similar trait profiles. These findings suggest that a dimensional approach to the personality of people with TTM and SPD may offer insight into these disorders and provide clues to treatment strategies.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Ibrahim Aslan: orcid.org/0000-0001-7366-9037

ORCID for Samuel Chamberlain: orcid.org/0000-0001-7014-8121

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