Trichotillomania, one of the family of obsessive-compulsive disorders, may afflict as many as six to eight million people in the US alone. This is a guide to the syndrome, filled with reassuring advice for patients and their families. Endorsed by the Trichotillomania Learning Center, the handbook includes all the information a patient or relative needs to understand the illness and to cope with it. Dr Penzel provides a detailed discussion of causes and he reviews all the treatment options, describing the most effective medications and their side effects, as well as the recommended cognitive and behavioural treatments. He shows patients how to design a self-help programme and gain control of their compulsive behaviour, and how to prevent relapse. He describes trichotillomania and its treatment in children, and suggests coping strategies for families at home and in public situations.