[Dermatitis Artefacta, Onychophagia and Trichotillomania in Mentally Retarded Children and Adolescents]

Systematic dermatovenorological examination included 457 mentally retarded children and adolescents institutionalized at the Institute for Mental Rehabilitation of Children and Adolescents "Novi Sad" in Veternik near Novi Sad. All examined subjects were classified into 3 groups: 1. severely retarded--immobile, 2. severely retarded--mobile, and 3. moderately retarded. Dermatoses were found in 70 (15.32%) of the subjects, the most frequent being: onychophagia in 34 (7.44%), dermatitis artefacta in 17 (3.72%) and trichotillomania in 14 (3.06%) cases. Onychophagia and trichotillomania occurred simultaneously in 5 (1.09%) cases. The authors review pathogenesis of the above dermatoses as well as possible measures for their prevention.