Introduction:

Psychostimulants, especially methylphenidate (MPH), are established treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. Their common side effects are well known, and, although trichotillomania (TTM) and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) are not formally listed among them, they are reported in the literature. This study describes a case of TTM and OCS associated with the use of MPH.

Clinical Case:

A nine-year-old boy was referred to the Infant and Adolescence Psychiatry consultation due to obsessive thoughts and TTM. He presented to the first appointment already medicated with immediate-release MPH.

Discussion:

The time span between MPH intake and the presentation of TTM and OCS, together with their resolution in the absence of MPH, raised clinical suspicion of an association between MPH and these conditions.

Conclusion:

Although TTM and OCS can coexist with ADHD, it was not until MPH exposure that they were observed in the present case.

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