Characteristics and treatment seeking in an adult Hispanic population with trichotillomania and skin picking disorder.

This study reports on characteristics of trichotillomania (TTM) and skin picking disorder (SPD) in an international Hispanic sample of adults. The survey was distributed online globally to a Hispanic population with TTM and SPD. 166 Hispanic adults with TTM (n = 127) or SPD (n = 39) reported moderate levels of symptom severity and low or very low quality of life. Anxiety disorders and OCD were common comorbidities. Hispanic adults with TTM and SPD were more impulsive and compulsive compared to non-Hispanic speaking adults (n = 92). Of the 166 subjects, 129 (77.7%) reported previously seeking treatment. When asked about the challenges they faced in seeking help, 67 (40.4%) identified a lack of therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists who were knowledgeable about these disorders.