Hair Pulling
In the study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, researchers studied 44 families in which one or more members had trichotillomania.
They focused on the gene SLITRK1 because a previous study had linked it to Tourette's syndrome, a related impulse-control disorder.
The study showed two mutations in this gene were found among family members with trichotillamania, but not in unaffected family members.
More Genes Likely Involved
Researchers estimate these mutations account for about 5% of trichotillomania cases.
Although the SLITRK1 gene is the first to be linked to trichotillomania, researchers say many other genes likely contribute to the disorder.
"The SLITRK1 gene could be among many other genes that are likely [to] interact with each other and environmental factors to trigger trichotillomania and other psychiatric conditions,"
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