Disorder Inspires Teachable Moments

Teen Tells Peers About Hair-Pulling

It isn't readily noticeable, but under Brogan Murphy's chestnut bangs, her eyebrows are gone. Just beneath where they would be are lash-less lids. By contrast, the Wheaton resident's shoulder-length hair is so thick and well cut that it could be mistaken for a wig.

Although the Northwood High School senior has a disorder, she's like many 18-year-olds. She has homework, a younger sister and pays particular attention to what she wears every day. And, sporting an Army green cap, cerulean shirt and jeans, she delivers an oft-rehearsed presentation in her living room about her condition.

" 'Tricho' is Greek for hair, and 'tillo' means pulling," she says, referring to information and pictures on poster boards that her mother, Liz Murphy, holds and flips when cued.

Hats are the linchpin for Brogan's outfits because they help her deal with her trichotillomania, a compulsive hair-pulling and skin-picking disorder. Brogan doesn't struggle with skin picking, but she started absentmindedly pulling out her hair, one strand at a time, primarily in the crown and on the left side of her head, when she was in middle school.

Now she travels to middle schools to educate students about the neurobiological-behavioral disorder. She visits cosmetology schools, too, because getting a haircut can be sensitive for someone with "trich," as the disorder is often called.

Brogan revealed her condition to her fellow students as part of a 10th-grade health-class project. She was encouraged by her peers and teacher to spread the message.

"They asked a lot of questions and were really cool about it," Brogan said. "Once I spoke more about it, the people who were making fun of me just kind of stopped."

She delivers a 30-minute presentation that includes a 14-minute video from the Trichotillomania Learning Center, a two-minute music video she created with her friends and her mother and a question-and-answer session.

Christina Pearson, founding director of the California-based Trichotillomania Learning Center, said that in the United States, 1 to 3 percent of the population has the disorder. Recent research has turned more attention to it, she said.

"Finally, finally, just last year, the National Institute of Mental Health funded a large trichotillomania pediatric study, and this year they have funded an adult study," Pearson said.

The trichotillomania center is funding research by Michael Bloch, a post-doctoral research fellow who recently completed his training in child psychiatry at the Yale Child Study Center. Bloch's pharmacological study focuses on the use and effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine for treating pediatric trichotillomania. The altered form of the amino acid cysteine is commonly found in pork, poultry and some dairy, as well as red peppers, garlic, broccoli and wheat germ.

"The goal is to develop interventions and treatments to help children so they don't engage in the behavior for 20 to 30 years," said Pearson, who has the disorder. She said when she was Brogan's age, she was "half bald," and her mother could not find information about the disorder. "Not only do I have many years of recovery now, but I get to do this help on behalf of other families."