This study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of methylphenidate in treating
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children with both ADHD and
trichotillomania.
Trichotillomania is an impulse control disorder. There is growing evidences of the
involvement of dopaminergic neurotransmission in the pathophysiology of trichotillomania.
Reported increase in the prevalence of ADHD among patients with impulse control disorders,
such as pathological gambling as well as trichotillomania, may result from the overlapping
pathophisiological background. It is hypothesized that in cases of ADHD comorbid with
trichotillomania methtylphenidate treatment will exhibit beneficial effects in both the ADHD
and the hair pulling.