What is trichotillomania or "trich"?

Classified as an Impulse Control Disorder in the 4th Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Currently, TTM is defined as:

• Recurrent pulling of one's own hair resulting in noticeable hair loss,
• an increasing sense of tension immediately before pulling out the hair or when attempting to not pull,
  
• pleasure, gratification, or relief when pulling out the hair,
  
• the disturbance is not better accounted for by another mental disorder and is not due to a dermatological condition, and
  
• the disturbance causes significant distress or disturbance in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning (APA, 1994).
  

Many people do not meet all of these criteria, but still pull their hair to a bothersome degree. This program is designed to help people who pull their hair and are distressed by their pulling.