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Childhood Trichotillomania: Diagnostic Algorithm and Systematic Problem-Solving Management Using the 5W1H (Kipling’s Principle)

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Practical Pediatric Dermatology

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Abstract

Trichotillomania is an often underdiagnosed condition. Despite the fact that the amount of literature has been gradually increasing, still little is known about childhood trichotillomania. The Kipling method or 5W1H (“Who,” “What,” “When,” “Where,” “Why,” and “How”) facilitates thorough documentation of each aspect of the child’s hair loss in a standardized way. This method can better equip clinicians to approach unexplained hair loss in a child. Increased knowledge of characteristics of childhood trichotillomania will aid to structure the history and diagnose the disorder correctly. The Kipling method may provide a better start in diagnosing and treating trichotillomania properly by trying to understand the hair condition in relation to the patient and his/her family/context. We proposed to apply a systematic information-gathering approach using the Kipling method (“5W1H”) to facilitate the diagnosis and management of childhood trichotillomania. Many dermatologists neither give much attention to the diagnosis nor treatment of trichotillomania, and this can be easily corrected.

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  • Chandran NS, Novak J, Iorizzo M, Grimalt R, Oranje AP. Trichotillomania in children. Skin Appendage Disord. 2015;1:18–24.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Dermatology, University Medicine Cluster, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

    Nisha Suyien Chandran MRCP (UK)

  2. PsyQ, Parnassiagroep, Breda/Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Jeroen Novak MD

  3. Private Dermatology Practice, Bellinzona, Switzerland

    Matilde Iorizzo

  4. Department of Dermatology, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

    Ramon Grimalt MD, PhD

  5. Department of Dermatology, Dermicis Skin Hospital – Alkmaar, Kinderhuid.nl – Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Arnold P. Oranje MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Nisha Suyien Chandran MRCP (UK)
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  2. Jeroen Novak MD
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  3. Matilde Iorizzo
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  4. Ramon Grimalt MD, PhD
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  5. Arnold P. Oranje MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Arnold P. Oranje MD, PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Arnold P. Oranje

  2. Farwaniya, Kuwait

    Nawaf Al-Mutairi

  3. Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    Tor Shwayder

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Chandran, N.S., Novak, J., Iorizzo, M., Grimalt, R., Oranje, A.P. (2016). Childhood Trichotillomania: Diagnostic Algorithm and Systematic Problem-Solving Management Using the 5W1H (Kipling’s Principle). In: Oranje, A., Al-Mutairi, N., Shwayder, T. (eds) Practical Pediatric Dermatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32159-2_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32159-2_15

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-32157-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-32159-2

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