Trichotillomania and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Our eight year old daughter has been pulling
out her eyelashes for the last two and half years.  
When she first started, we thought she was dealing
with the stress of having her two parents get back together
after they'd divorced.  We thought she would stop this behavior over time...once she felt safe and secure again.
This week she has progressed from pulling her eyelashes to pulling out her eyebraws too.  We are very alarmed about this behavior and know we need to take an interactive approach.

Her father and I disagree on what approach we should use to help her with this disorder.  I believe that she will do best with therapy and medication.  Her father however, feels that therapy alone is the answer.  Could you please give us more information on both treatments.

We live in Colorado and would be able to commute to Denver, Boulder, Longmont or Ft.Collins.  I've looked in our phone book but didn't find a listing for a therapist or doctor under the heardings of trichotillomania or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.  Can you refer a doctor and therapist that deals with children
who have this disorder?

Any and all information would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks so much for your time.

Sincerely,

Cee Cee

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Cee Cee,

The recommended treatment for Trichotillomania and OCD involves a combination of therapy and medication. Very mild instances of either of the conditions may respond to therapy alone, but it is more common to look to medication as part of the intervention.

I would suggest you contact Denver Children's Hospital, and ask for the  Outpatient/Ambulatory Child Psychiatry Department.