Dissociative episodes characterised by hair-pulling in a late adolescent woman

Authors

Danielle Nicole Healey, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA dhealey30@gwu.edu.
Jessica J. Lee, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
Elizabeth Getzoff Testa, Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology, Mt Washington Pediatric Hospital Inc, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Rishi Gautam, Department of Psychiatry, Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

9-27-2023

Journal

BMJ case reports

Volume

16

Issue

9

DOI

10.1136/bcr-2022-254100

Keywords

Anxiety disorders (including OCD and PTSD); Child and adolescent psychiatry; Child and adolescent psychiatry (paediatrics); Psychiatry

Abstract

A woman in late adolescence with a history of sickle cell disease, moyamoya disease, cerebrovascular accident, mild intellectual disability, post-traumatic stress disorder, functional seizures, generalised anxiety disorder and transient psychosis was referred for a psychiatry consultation. She presented with worsening episodes of dissociation characterised by compulsory hair-pulling. Limited research exists regarding patients engaging in activities of automated behaviour during episodes of dissociation. Thus, we aim to describe a case of a patient with episodes of hair-pulling during dissociative events to discuss the aetiology and treatment. We are describing the aetiology and treatment of a patient with episodes of hair-pulling during dissociative events.

APA Citation

Healey, Danielle Nicole; Lee, Jessica J.; Getzoff Testa, Elizabeth; and Gautam, Rishi, "Dissociative episodes characterised by hair-pulling in a late adolescent woman" (2023). GW Authored Works. Paper 3341.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/3341

Department

School of Medicine and Health Sciences Student Works