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May 17, 2006
Habit disorders: How to prevent and treat nail biting
by SirGan
 Nail biting is one very common habit that affects mostly kids but it can happen to adults and older people! It is about biting one's fingernails or toenails during periods of nervousness, stress or boredom. It can also be a sign of mental or emotional disorder, but is commonly seen in intellectuals. The medical term for nail biting is chronic onychophagia. It belongs to the group of disorders called Stereotypic movement disorders. Often starting in childhood, nail biting can persist in some adults and become an irritating and unsightly nuisance. Some nail biters experience the habit with such severity that their nails are constantly bitten down to the maximum and bleeding, causing pain and often embarrassment.IncidenceSeveral studies have shown that approximately 28% to 33% of children ages 7-10 years old are biting their nails, as well as the 44% of adolescents, 19% to 29% of young adults and 5% of older adults. It is usually more common in boys. Stereotypic movements are common in infants and toddlers. Some estimates suggest that 15–20 percent of children under age three exhibit some kind of rhythmic, repetitive movements.
What is stereotypic movement disorder?Stereotypic movements are described as a special psychiatric symptom, since they have symptoms of both psychotic and neurological disorders. They may also arise from unexplained causes. These movements may include:
The exact definition is that this disorder is about repetitive movements that cause physical harm or severely interfere with normal activities. Although, many think that it happens only to kids, this isn't true at all! Stereotypic movements occur in people of any age, including the very young, but they are most prevalent in adolescence.
HabitsSimilar to stereotypic movements, a habit is a learned behavior that a person repeats so often that he or she begins to do it without even thinking about it. Although many people don’t think a lot about this, the fact is that certain habits can be helpful, and some may seem to serve no particular purpose!
Some habits are annoying, and some can cause distress or become the focus of teasing. Still others may have harmful effects. For example, thumb sucking, which can go on for years, can cause dental problems.
Are there a thing called ’’Physiological habit’’ ?Some habit-like behavior is normal for a developing child. For example, approximately one half of all 2-year-old children engage in thumb sucking. However, if this behavior persists through childhood, the likelihood of it becoming a substantial problem may increase with age.
Possible cause of nail bitingLike any other stereotypic movement, nail biting can be caused by:
Nail biting is, according to Freudian theory, a symptom of oral fixation.
It is very important to know that, although many situations can give rise to stereotypic movements, the root cause of stereotypic movement disorder is unknown. Different theories propose that the causes are:
Although there are many theories to account for this disorder, no hard evidence clearly supports one line of reasoning or specific cause.
Symptoms of nail bitingThe fact is that most childhood habits are benign and have no specific observable physical signs. However, when physical signs are present, they are typically non-pathologic and often previously unnoticed. It is proven that nail biting can be associated with next symptoms:
Nail biting can worsen some existing conditions of the nail bed, such as:
Negative side-effects of nail bitingBiting the nails can result in the transportation of microorganisms that are hidden under the surface of the nail into the mouth. This could lead to some very serious infections of the gums and lips! In fact, over 100 bacterial skin infections in 2000 were traced to footbaths in nail salons. It is proven that many pathogens have the ability to live and multiply inside of a nail, and still cause no significant symptoms. Nail biting also has the negative side effect of restraining the use of the hands. Although, they are afraid to admit- but the fact is that- a compulsive nail-biter can be restricted in their ability to work because their hand is in their mouth. These jobs include writing, typing, drawing; driving and other…It can cause not only damages of the nails but the teeth also. It can cause serious damages to the substantia adamantinea of the front teeth, promoting caries in these areas.
Treatment of nail bitingMost common habits in children that require treatment can be significantly improved with behavioral interventions, without the use of medications. However, in some cases, medications in addition to behavioral treatments may be required to attain optimal treatment outcomes.
The fact is that some of those nasty habits such as nail biting have been shown to respond well to certain types of medication. The medications used to treat the problem include the newest, most potent anti-depressants. These medications include
anti-psychotics medications that are also being used are:
Behavioral TherapyBeside the fact that most experts believe that behavioral therapy couldn’t be that much helpful, some patients have found behavioral therapy to be beneficial on its own or as a complement to medication.
The first part of nail biting therapy consists of
HypnotherapyHypnotherapy can help you to form positive new alternatives to nail biting, to help you cope with anxious situations and stress triggers in a constructive way.
Other TreatmentVarious forms of aversion therapy exist to help people stop biting their nails. These include:
There is only one but big problem- some compulsive nail-biters, however, find the effectiveness of all of these remedies to be poor. Like other nervous habits, nail biting is sometimes a symptom of an emotional problem. In these cases, resolving the underlying problem can help to lessen or eliminate the nail-biting habit.
Tips for parents
Nail biting is a common habit. Although unsanitary, it typically causes no long-term nail problems. The fact is that most of the childhood habits that do not involve self-injury are benign and disappear without any special intervention. When a habit persists and interferes with daily functioning, intervention is warranted.
The prognosis for reducing and eliminating habit disorders is typically good.
Treatment research shows that behavioral intervention can reduce the habit behavior by 90%.
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