HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Carr, J. R. Articles by Baron, D. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Carr, J. R. Articles by Baron, D. A.

From the Department of Psychiatry at Drexel University School of Medicine (Dr Carr), and the Department of Psychiatry at Temple University School of Medicine (Drs Sholevar and Baron) in Philadelphia, Pa.

Address correspondence to David A. Baron, DO, MSEd, Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, Temple University, Temple Episcopal Campus, 3rd Floor, 100 E Lehigh Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125-1012. E-mail: dbaron{at}temple.edu

Untreated trichophagia secondary to trichotillomania is a potentially life-threatening condition. Taking a thorough family and social history, most notably with the aid of a genogram or family tree, can aid in including this disorder in the differential diagnosis. This case presentation describes a unique occurrence of untreated trichotillomania in a female adolescent that led to formation of a trichobezoar requiring emergent surgical intervention and follow-up psychiatric treatment. This case highlights osteopathic medicine's fundamental concept of treating the whole person rather than just symptoms by considering factors such as genetic influences in understanding disease.