Parent-Youth Rating Concordance for Hair Pulling Variables, Functional Impairment, and Anxiety Scale Scores in Trichotillomania

ABSTRACT

Knowledge of cross-informant rating concordance is critical for the assessment of child and adolescent problems in clinical and research settings. We explored parent-youth rating concordance for hair pulling variables, functional impairment, and anxiety symptoms in a sample of child and adolescent hair pullers (n = 133) satisfying conservative diagnostic criteria for trichotillomania (TTM). Whole group analyses reveal significant parent-youth agreement on all study variables. Split group analyses, however, reveal superior parent-youth concordance for the adolescent (15–17 years old) versus younger (10–12 years old) hair pullers for awareness of hair pulling and anxiety scale scores. These results highlight the need for both parent and youth ratings when assessing younger children with TTM.

KEYWORDS:

• Agreement
• rating concordance
• trichotillomania

The authors thank the Trichotillomania Learning Center (TLC) for sponsorship and funding of this project.

Notes

Note. Y = younger age group; O = older age group; Y − O Diff = difference in concordance ratings for younger and older age groups.

∗p < .05. ∗∗p < .001.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

TLC-SAB (Trichotillomania Learning Center-Scientific Advisory Board, Santa Cruz, CA) members are Ruth Golomb, MEd; Ethan Lerner, MD, PhD; Carol Novak, MD; Frederick Penzel, PhD; Dan Stein, MD, PhD; and Harry Wright, MD, MBA.