key term - Excoriation Disorder

Definition

Excoriation disorder, also known as dermatillomania or chronic skin-picking, is a mental health condition characterized by the recurrent and compulsive urge to pick, scratch, or manipulate one's own skin, often resulting in significant tissue damage and impairment in daily functioning. This disorder is classified under the obsessive-compulsive and related disorders category in the field of psychology.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Excoriation disorder often begins in adolescence and can persist into adulthood if left untreated.
2. Individuals with excoriation disorder may experience intense feelings of anxiety, tension, or urges prior to engaging in skin-picking, which are temporarily relieved by the act of picking.
3. The skin-picking behaviors in excoriation disorder can lead to significant tissue damage, scarring, and increased risk of infection.
4. Excoriation disorder is often comorbid with other mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorders, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
5. Treatment for excoriation disorder typically involves a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy, habit-reversal training, and in some cases, medication management.

Review Questions

• Describe the core features of excoriation disorder and how it is classified within the broader category of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.
  • Excoriation disorder is characterized by the recurrent and compulsive urge to pick, scratch, or manipulate one's own skin, often resulting in significant tissue damage. This disorder is classified under the obsessive-compulsive and related disorders category because it shares similarities with obsessive-compulsive disorder, such as repetitive thoughts, urges, and behaviors that the individual feels driven to perform. Excoriation disorder is also considered a body-focused repetitive behavior, a group of disorders that involve repetitive behaviors targeting one's own body, including hair-pulling and nail-biting.
• Explain the relationship between excoriation disorder and other mental health conditions, and discuss the potential impact of comorbidity on the treatment and management of the disorder.
  • Excoriation disorder is often comorbid with other mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorders, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The presence of these co-occurring disorders can complicate the treatment and management of excoriation disorder, as the underlying psychological and emotional factors contributing to the skin-picking behaviors may be more complex. Clinicians must take a comprehensive approach to assessment and treatment, addressing not only the skin-picking behaviors but also the associated mental health conditions and their interactions. Effective treatment may require a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy, habit-reversal training, and in some cases, medication management to address the various aspects of the individual's mental health needs.
• Analyze the potential long-term consequences of untreated excoriation disorder and discuss the importance of early intervention and a multidisciplinary approach to treatment.
  • If left untreated, excoriation disorder can lead to significant long-term consequences, including severe tissue damage, scarring, and increased risk of infection. The repetitive skin-picking behaviors can also have a profound impact on an individual's quality of life, interfering with daily functioning, social relationships, and overall well-being. Early intervention and a multidisciplinary approach to treatment are crucial for addressing excoriation disorder effectively. This may involve a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy, habit-reversal training, and in some cases, medication management to target the underlying psychological, emotional, and neurobiological factors contributing to the disorder. By addressing excoriation disorder holistically and in a timely manner, individuals can learn to manage their urges, develop healthier coping strategies, and minimize the long-term physical and psychological consequences of the disorder.

Related terms

Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs): A group of disorders that involve repetitive behaviors targeting one's own body, such as hair-pulling (trichotillomania), nail-biting, and skin-picking (excoriation disorder).

Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders: A group of mental disorders that share similarities with obsessive-compulsive disorder, including repetitive thoughts, urges, and behaviors that the individual feels driven to perform.

Impulse Control Disorders: A category of mental disorders characterized by the inability to resist the urge to engage in behaviors that may be harmful to oneself or others, such as gambling, stealing, or skin-picking.