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Mental Health Information Centre - Southern Africa

Join our research on hair-pulling disorder (TTM)

Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder, or TTM) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by pulling hair from one or more body areas, resulting in hair loss, distress and even functional impairment. Hair-pulling may serve an emotion regulation function (i.e. stimulating when under-stimulated or bored, and soothing when over-stimulated or upset). This project aims to investigate the phenomenon of emotional regulation and its link with stress and trauma in people with TTM.

We are inviting people with TTM as well as healthy individuals, 18 years or older, to take part in our research study. To be included as a healthy participant, the individual must have no history of mental illness (e.g. depression).

If you are interested, your participation will include an interview with a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist and referral for treatment, if indicated. Participation is voluntary and confidential, and you can withdraw at any time. The interviews will take place at the MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry at the Tygerberg campus of Stellenbosch University.
Please contact Miss Salome Demetriou (email: 17506549@sun.ac.za; phone: 0764042055) or the principal investigator, Prof Christine Lochner (email: cl2@sun.ac.za; phone: 021 9389179).
Alternatively, you can also visit the following website: http://www.mrc.ac.za/anxiety/anxiety.htm

 


Mental Health Topics

In partnership with:


University of Stellenbosch
South African Medical Research Council
University of Cape Town