In this article two issues in the recent literature on trichotillomania are evaluated. One issue is a diagnostic one: is trichotillomania an obsessive compulsive spectrum disorder? The other issue concerns treatment: are antiobsessional serotonine reuptake blockers useful in treating trichotillomania?

To answer the first question attention is paid to the clinical characteristics, comorbidity, and other diagnostic issues concerning trichotillomania. The differences between trichotillomania and obsessive compulsive disorder are too many to give an affirmative answer to the first question.

Next, this review summarizes the clinical studies on psychopharmacological treatment of trichotillomania in adolescents and adults. Two controlled and seven open studies are described. The results of these studies diverge and are inconsistent.