Trichotillomania in children is not a common occurrence. It appears to occur more frequently in girls than in boys, however, and cuts across all ages and a wide range of nosological categories. Emotional deprivation in the maternal relationship during early years appears to contribute significantly to the development of the symptom, with the most intense conflict between the child and the original love object. Trichotillomania as a symptom may take on different meanings at different levels of development, with the original meaning becoming obscured and less significant in later years.
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