International Business Times: Why Is Nail Biting Common? Onychophagia Caused By Extreme Excitement Or Boredom Why Is Nail Biting Common? Onychophagia Caused By Extreme Excitement Or Boredom Nail biting or Onychophagia is the habit of biting nails with the teeth and is seen in both adults and children.

Understanding the Context

While the habit seems simple to stop, it actually is a psychological condition in some ... Biting the nails while standing around and bored or concentrating on something else is called onychophagy or onychophagia. It is a very common problem. It is a habit and behaviour which starts around ...

Key Insights

Onychophagia is a type of onychotillomania, which includes the habit of picking or otherwise manipulating the nails - for example, habit-tic nail deformity. Some researchers believe that nail biting is a result of a delay or dysfunction in the oral stage of psychological development. Onychophagia What is onychophagia? Onychophagia is the clinical name for fingernail biting. It is a common stress-related or nervous habit in children and adults.

Final Thoughts

It involves biting off the nail plate, and sometimes the soft tissues of the nail bed and the cuticle as well. Obsessive - compulsive disorder is associated with trichotillomania (compulsive hair -pulling), onychophagia (nail biting), habit-tic nail deformity, hand dermatitis from compulsive hand washing, and other skin conditions; SSRIs, such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline and fluvoxamine, have been proven to be effective for its treatment in ...