Clinic of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, 54694Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Faculty of Medicine, 54694Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Sci Prog. 2021 Oct;104(4):368504211050288. doi: 10.1177/00368504211050288.
Although onychophagia is a medical condition and is associated with poorer health, there are no guidelines for assessment or treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical aspects of nail biting from doctors' points of view, to estimate the prevalence of onychophagia among physicians, and to review the literature on and treatment methods for onychophagia. Twenty-four percent of doctors reported nail-biting periods during their lifetimes, and 2% of them remained active nail biters. A total of 64.4% of doctors see nail biting in their practices, and 60.6% never or only on request ask patients about nail biting and examine their nails. Family doctors and pediatricians ask their patients about nail biting most often. Attitudes and opinions on the treatment of nail biting are undefined and vary. Doctors reported usually treating nail-biting patients by referring them to another specialist or offering special nail polish. There is a need to improve physicians' knowledge of nail-biting treatment methods, but a lack of studies evaluating the clinical aspects of onychophagia and its relation to mental health and emotion dysregulation. Further research is needed. Clinical attitudes toward nail biting could be more precise in training and medical practice.
尽管咬指甲是一种医学病症，与健康状况较差有关，但目前尚无评估或治疗的指南。本研究旨在从医生的角度调查咬指甲的临床方面，估计医生中咬指甲的流行率，并回顾有关咬指甲的文献和治疗方法。24%的医生报告在其一生中曾有过咬指甲期，而其中 2%的人仍在活跃地咬指甲。共有 64.4%的医生在其行医过程中看到过咬指甲，而 60.6%的医生从不或仅应要求询问患者有关咬指甲的情况并检查他们的指甲。家庭医生和儿科医生最常询问患者有关咬指甲的情况。对咬指甲治疗的态度和意见没有明确定义，而且各不相同。医生报告说，通常通过将咬指甲的患者转介给其他专家或提供特殊指甲油来治疗他们。需要提高医生对咬指甲治疗方法的了解，但缺乏评估咬指甲的临床方面及其与心理健康和情绪失调关系的研究。需要进一步研究。在培训和医疗实践中，对咬指甲的临床态度可以更加准确。
