Medical term of the week: Trichophagia

It is rather amusing to watch your cat coughing up a fur ball – but you wouldn’t want to trade places with them. Trichophagia, aka Rapunzel Syndrome, is a rare psychiatric condition in which people are compelled to eat their own hair (or even the hair of others!). The hair begins to collect and form a mass in the gastrointestinal tract. This can result in complications, and even death. In less severe cases, you will most likely be left with bald patches. A cognitive approach to therapy is usually taken to treat the disease.