[Clinico-phenomenologic characteristics of trichotillomania in children and adolescents].

Altogether 110 children and adolescents aged 1 to 19 years with trichotillomania and its rudiments were examined. The given phenomenon is shown to be similar to the other forms of pathological habitual actions, especially to onychophagy. The author demonstrates the nosological nonspecificity of trichotillomania and a great role played in its origin of minimum brain dysfunction. Provides evidence for the concept of the biological nature of the phenomenon. Stresses the psychopathological heterogeneity of trichotillomania in different age groups with emphasis on the preservation of the common pathogenetic nucleus--the conditioned reflex fixing of the philogenetic behavioral models. Advances an opinion about the validity of singling out the definition "a pathological habitual action" as an independent psychopathological sign of certain varieties of trichotillomania.