The Role of Bio-Psychological Factors in Understanding Trichophagia Disorder (Rapunzel Syndrome)
Helen Zare
ABSTRACT
Trichophagia is a somatic symptom disorder associated with trichotillomania (hair pulling) that results in the eating of hair. This can lead to serious medical consequences and can even be fatal. People who eat hair for a long time may experience abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation due to the accumulation of hair that forms hairballs, medically known as trichobiosis. Trichophagia is a psychiatric somatic symptom disorder that is more common, though not exclusively, in women. Also known as Rapunzel syndrome, trichophagia can lead to serious, sometimes life-threatening medical problems that may require gastrointestinal surgery. It is likely caused by the growth of a hairball that accumulates in the small intestine. When the small intestine runs out of space, the hair invades surrounding areas. Symptoms do not appear until the digestive tract (esophagus to rectum) becomes blocked with hair. This syndrome is often undiagnosed or untreated and is often misdiagnosed as a digestive problem.
