Noah Sinclair
Nail biting, also known as onychophagy or onychophagia, is a common oral compulsive habit. It is estimated that 25-35% of children bite their nails, and while it is not always a sign of a psychological disorder, it can be a source of shame and guilt. Nail biting can include biting the nail, the cuticle, and the tissue around the nail, and can lead to soreness and stomach and intestinal infections.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Onychophagy or onychophagia |
| Type of behaviour | Oral compulsive habit |
| Prevalence | Very common, especially among children (25-35%) |
| Classification | Parafunctional activity |
| DSM-IV-R classification | Impulse control disorder |
| DSM-5 classification | Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders |
| ICD-10 classification | Other specified behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence |
| Co-occurring behaviours | Onychotillomania (nail picking), excoriation disorder (skin picking), dermatophagia (skin biting), trichotillomania (hair pulling), bruxism (tooth clenching and grinding), pen chewing, cheek biting |
| Co-occurring disorders | Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, separation anxiety disorder |
| Possible causes | Perfectionism, desire for stimulation when bored or frustrated |
| Side effects | Soreness of nails and surrounding skin, increased risk of stomach and intestinal infections |
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What You'll Learn
Nail biting is a common habit, especially among children
Nail biting is not always a harmful obsession, but it can be difficult to distinguish between this and normal behaviour. It can co-occur with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder and separation anxiety disorder. It can also be associated with bruxism (tooth clenching and grinding), pen chewing and cheek biting.
Nail biting can be a source of guilt and shame for the nail biter, and it can reduce their quality of life. It can also increase stigmatisation in the family or at a societal level. It can lead to soreness of the nails and surrounding skin, and swallowing bitten-off nails can increase the risk of stomach and intestinal infections.
Some researchers have speculated that nail biting may stem from a tendency towards perfectionism or a desire for stimulation when bored or frustrated.
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It is sometimes described as a parafunctional activity
Nail biting, also known as onychophagy or onychophagia, is an oral compulsive habit of biting one's fingernails. It is sometimes described as a parafunctional activity, meaning the use of the mouth for an activity other than speaking, eating or drinking. Nail biting is very common, especially among children, of whom 25-35% bite their nails. It can be a source of guilt and shame, leading to a reduced quality of life and increased stigmatisation. Nail biting can also lead to soreness of the nails and surrounding skin, and swallowing bitten-off nails can increase the risk of stomach and intestinal infections.
Nail biting is considered a pathological disorder in the DSM-IV-R and is classified under obsessive-compulsive and related disorders in the DSM-5. The ICD-10 classifies the practice as "other specified behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence". However, not all nail biting is pathological, and the difference between harmful obsession and normal behaviour is not always clear. Some researchers speculate that nail biting may stem from a tendency towards perfectionism or a desire for stimulation when bored or frustrated.
Nail biting often coexists with other body-focused repetitive behaviours such as onychotillomania (nail picking), excoriation disorder (skin picking), dermatophagia (skin biting), and trichotillomania (the urge to pull out hair). It is also associated with bruxism (tooth clenching and grinding), pen chewing and cheek biting. In children, nail biting typically co-occurs with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other psychiatric disorders such as oppositional defiant disorder and separation anxiety disorder.
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Nail biting is considered a pathological disorder in the DSM-IV-R
Nail biting, also known as onychophagy or onychophagia, is an oral compulsive habit of biting one's fingernails. It is sometimes described as a parafunctional activity, which is the use of the mouth for an activity other than speaking, eating, or drinking. Nail biting is very common, especially among children, of whom 25-35% bite their nails.
Nail biting can be a source of guilt and shame, leading to a reduced quality of life and increased stigmatisation within inner family circles or at a societal level. It is often associated with other body-focused repetitive behaviours such as nail picking, skin picking, skin biting, and the urge to pull out hair. In children, nail biting typically co-occurs with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and separation anxiety disorder.
Habits like swallowing bitten-off nails can increase the risk of stomach and intestinal infections. While not everyone with these disorders bites their nails, nail biting can be indicative of underlying psychological issues.
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It can be a source of guilt and shame
Nail biting, also known as onychophagy or onychophagia, is an oral compulsive habit of biting one's fingernails. It is very common, especially among children, of whom 25-35% bite their nails. Nail biting can be a source of guilt and shame, as well as a reduced quality of life and increased stigmatisation in family circles and society. It is sometimes described as a parafunctional activity, meaning the use of the mouth for an activity other than speaking, eating or drinking.
Nail biting can be associated with a range of psychological disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder and separation anxiety disorder. However, not all nail biters have these disorders, and not everyone with these disorders bites their nails. It is also speculated that nail biting may be linked to perfectionism or a desire for stimulation when bored or frustrated.
Nail biting can lead to soreness of the nails and surrounding skin, and more serious side effects such as stomach and intestinal infections if the bitten-off nails are swallowed. It can be challenging to break the habit, but it is possible with time and patience.
Nail biting is a common problem in psychiatry, psychology, medicine and dentistry, and it is classified as an impulse control disorder in the DSM-IV-R and under obsessive-compulsive and related disorders in the DSM-5. The ICD-10 classifies it as "other specified behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence".
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It can cause stomach and intestinal infections
Nail biting, also known as onychophagy or onychophagia, is an oral compulsive habit of biting one's fingernails. It is sometimes described as a parafunctional activity, the use of the mouth for an activity other than speaking, eating, or drinking. Nail biting is very common, especially among children, of whom 25-35% bite their nails.
Nail biting can include biting the nail, the cuticle, and the tissue around the nail. Most nail biters don't develop long-term damage, but it can happen. Beyond soreness of the nails and surrounding skin, side effects can include stomach and intestinal infections. This is because swallowing bitten-off nails can increase the risk of such infections.
Nail biting can be a source of guilt and shame, a reduced quality of life, and increased stigmatisation in the inner family circles or at a more societal level. It is also associated with other body-focused repetitive behaviours such as onychotillomania (nail picking), excoriation disorder (skin picking), dermatophagia (skin biting), and trichotillomania (the urge to pull out hair). In children, nail biting most typically co-occurs with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other psychiatric disorders including oppositional defiant disorder and separation anxiety disorder.
Some researchers also speculate that nail biting may partially stem from an overall tendency towards perfectionism or from a desire to seek stimulation when bored or frustrated. While it seems that nail biting is a simple behaviour that can be stopped easily, it is a common, but unresolved, problem in psychiatry, psychology, medicine and dentistry.
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Frequently asked questions
Nail biting is an oral compulsive habit of biting one's fingernails. It is sometimes described as a parafunctional activity, the use of the mouth for an activity other than speaking, eating, or drinking.
Nail biting is very common, especially among children, but it can be a source of guilt and shame, a reduced quality of life, and increased stigmatisation. While it can be associated with disorders such as ADHD, ODD, and separation anxiety disorder, not everyone with these disorders bites their nails, and not all nail biting is pathological.
Some researchers believe that nail biting may be linked to a personality trait such as perfectionism or a desire for stimulation when bored or frustrated.
