Objective: Immunological factors may play a role in the etiology of
trichotillomania (TTM). Peripheral inflammatory markers such as
Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio
(PLR), Monocyte-Lymphocyte Ratio (MLR), monocyte to high-density
lipoprotein (HDL) ratio (MHR), Systemic Immune-Inflammation
Index (SII) have not yet been investigated in TTM. This study aimed to
compare TTM with healthy control (HC) in terms of various inflammatory
markers such as NLR, PLR, MLR, MHR, SII.
Method: The electronic records were examined of patients who were
diagnosed with TTM who attended to the outpatient psychiatry clinic
between January 2022 and December 2023. 46 TTM and 44 HC were
included in the study. Blood samples for 90 participants were examined
from electronic records, and NLR, PLR, MLR, and SII values were calculated.
Participants with TTM were scored according to disease severity
using the Clinical Global Impression–Severity (CGI-S) scale.
Results: NLR, PLR, MLR, MHR, and SII were significantly higher in
TTM. No significant correlation was found between CGI-S scores and
NLR, PLR, MLR, MHR, and SII values in TTM. According to binary
logistic regression analysis, a significant relationship was found between
NLR and TTM.
Conclusion: TTM group have elevated peripheral inflammatory
markers compared with HC group. Findings of the study support the
potential inflammatory process in TTM.
Keywords: Trichotillomania, Inflammation, Neutrophil-Lymphocyte
Ratio (NLR), Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Monocyte
-Lymphocyte Ratio (MLR), Monocyte to HDL ratio (MHR), Systemic
Immune-Inflammation Index (SII)