Hair Pulling Disorder Tied to Genes?

A new study suggests mutations in a gene called SLITKR1 may play a role in the development of trichotillomania in some families. The mental disorder causes people to compulsively pull their hair out, resulting in noticeable hair losshair loss and bald spots.

Researcher Stephan Züchner, MD, of the Duke Center for Human Genetics, says genetic mutations only account for a small fraction of trichotillomania cases, but the findings may help lead to a better understanding of the unusual disorder.

I think the bulk of cases are derived from feelings of shame> that leads to anxiety > that leads to compulsions> to self-harm/pull ..which leads to feelings of shame for pulling. It grows to this common cycle even if it doesn't start like this. Overall, it seems to me like a method of self-harm which tend to have a secret nature to them in general. Having the secret makes on anxious and feeling shame. I have heard of people releasing their secret to everyone that mattered to them and they actually felt better reducing that portion of the burden. A person might pull less because they are less anxius if the cat were out of the bag. Secrets are the heaviest burden of all.

I think there always needs to be some outside trigger. For me it wasn't anxiety but it started when my elder brother stuck a huge chunk of bubblegum into my hair so they had to cut it off... Then I started tucking at the remains of the hair sort of the same way you just can't keep from scratching an old wound.