Onychotillomania
Onychotillomania is a compulsive neurosis in which a person picks constantly at the nails or tries to tear them off.[1] It is not the same as onychophagia, where the nails are bitten or chewed or dermatillomania, where skin is bitten or scratched.
It is commonly associated with psychiatric disorders such as depressive neurosis, delusions of infestation[2] and hypochondriasis.[3]
It was named by Professor Jan Alkiewicz, a Polish dermatologist.[4]
The constant destruction of the nail bed leads to onychodystrophy, paronychia[5] and darkening of the nail.[6]
Some cases have been treated successfully with antipsychotics.[7]
See also
References
- ^ James, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. (10th ed.). Saunders. ISBN 0721629210.
- ^ Sait, Mohammed. Onychotillomania 2 Case Reports Dermatologica 1985;171:200-202
- ^ Kim MH, Park HJ, Lee JY, Cho BK. Two Cases of Onychotillomania. Korean J Dermatol. 2006 Jul;44(7):855-857. Korean.
- ^ Grzybowski A, Zaba R. Professor Jan Alkiewicz, MD, and his influence on 20th century dermatology and mycology. Clinics in Dermatology. 27(3):317-322.
- ^ Harth W, Gieler U, Kusnir D, Tausk F. Clinical Management of Psychodermatology - Google Books. Berlin: Springer; 2009. Available at: http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=NHnEMdgKJbIC&oi=fnd&pg=PT29&dq=Onychotillomania&ots=kAcrxvX9DD&sig=aeOX6xMBbxuVrb4kjN761vOyLUo#v=onepage&q=Onychotillomania&f=false [Accessed March 5, 2010].
- ^ Baran R. Nail Biting and Picking as a Possible Cause of Longitudinal Melanonychia. Dermatology. 1990;181(2):126-128.
- ^ Hamann K. Onychotillomania treated with pimozide (Orap). Acta Derm. Venereol. 1982;62(4):364-366.