Onychophagia is also known as a nail biting disorder. The disorder is chronic, but also repetitive and compulsive and is thus considered an obsessive-compulsive related disorder in the DSM-5 (Baghchechi et al., 2021). The disorder is commonly seen in children and young adults, and its appearance is mediated by several factors, ranging from genetics to psychological diagnoses.
Onychophagia has a prevalence of around 20 - 30% in the general population. While nail biting may be considered normal in children, pathologic nail biting criteria are still needing to be better defined. Currently, onychophagia is considered an OCD-related disorder and is categorized as a body-focused repetitive behaviour disorder alongside other disorders such as trichotillomania, excoriation disorder, and compulsive and repetitive lip biting. To be diagnosed with onychophagia, the individual must have been unable to suppress the compulsive nail biting behaviour, even in the face of negative social consequences.
It is important to note that there can be consequences of chronic nail biting. For example, there can be damage to the nail bed, and oral infection can also result. Thus it is important to tackle onychophagia and pursue treatment for many individuals experiencing the condition. Dermatologists recommend an aversive therapy approach. Patients can apply a distasteful coating to the nail that will deter patients from biting the nail. Another approach is to use CBT to address the behaviour.
To summarize, nail biting, or onychophagia, can be a debilitating condition, and can continue from childhood into one’s adult years. Knowing treatment approaches and plans can be helpful to prevent the disorder from continuing to interfere with an individual’s life.
References
Baghchechi, M., Pelletier, J. L., & Jacob, S. E. (2021). Art of prevention: The importance of tackling the nail biting habit. International Journal of Women's Dermatology, 7(3), 309–313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijwd.2020.09.008