Dear Colleagues,

The term body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) refers to a group of recurrent and problematic behaviors directed toward the body. Although studies on BFRBs had been limited in comparison to research on other psychiatric conditions, the number of studies in this field is recently growing systematically. This current interest in BFRBs is related to the new approach to BFRB classification as obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, as well as to the introduction of excoriation (skin picking) disorder into the new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5) as a separate diagnostic category.

These recent changes in classification not only organize the so far poorly systematized knowledge about BFRB disorders, but also open up new research directions within the contexts of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.

The increase of studies on BFRBs is also related to results of recent epidemiological studies showing that BFRBs are more widespread than previously thought.

While extremely severe BFRBs do not occur more often in the population than other mental disorders, the mild, non-clinical forms of BFRBs are relatively common in the general population. Notwithstanding, although they affect a large part of the population, they are rarely effectively treated. Considering BFRB symptoms as harmless habits, feeling of shame and unwillingness to report these behaviours by affected individuals, ignoring symptoms by physicians or physicians' reluctance to refer patients reporting BFRBs to mental health specialists - all of these limit the possibility of getting help.

This issue of IJERPH focuses on research and experiences related to BFRBs, such as trichotillomania, skin picking, onychophagia, cheek and lip biting, nail picking, scab picking/eating, knuckle cracking, and teeth grinding. This may include a description of risk factors (including biological, psychological, environmental), prevalence, mechanisms, subjective experiences of sufferers, assessment tools and treatment options.

We invite all specialists in the fields of medicine, psychology, pedagogy, public health and epidemiology to submit high quality empirical papers or systematic reviews related to the issues in this research area.

Dr. Katarzyna Prochwicz
Dr. Joanna Kłosowska
Guest Editors

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• Body Focused Repetitive Behaviours (BFRBs)
• BFRBs risk factors
• BFRBs course and symptoms
• Subjective experiences
• Treatment
• Prevention
• Comorbidity
• Quality of life