ONYCHOPHAGIA (NAIL-BITING) SIGNS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS OR SIMPLE HABIT
Authors:   Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychiatry Department, Mental Health Hospital, Jeddah, KSA., Abdalhameed Abdalrasheed Khan Suhail , Jehad Abousada Hoda ,   Obestetric&Gynecology MRCOG, Master SA, KAMC, KSA., Musharraf Alamri Mohammed ,   Service Doctor, MOH, KSA., Ahmed Al Ghamdi Muaath ,   Service Doctor, MOH, KSA., Abdulkareem Alfaraj Ghaidaa ,   Service Doctor, MOH, KSA., Salem Alghamdi Abdullah ,   Service Pharmacist, KSA., Ahmed Bajaber Salihah ,   Medical Intern, KSA., ali Bakri Khulud ,   Medical Intern, KSA., hamoud alharbi Hanadi ,   Staff Nurse, MOH, KSA., Naiaf Alotaibi Lamia ,   Staff Nurse, MOH, KSA., saad Almutairi Suad ,   Staff Nurse, MOH, KSA., abdulrahman Alanazi Mathal ,   Staff Nurse, MOH, KSA., saad Al Rashidi Jamilh ,   Staff Nurse, MOH, KSA., Yousef Alatawi Tahani ,   Staff Nurse, MOH, KSA.
Published: January 2023

Background:In the fields of psychiatry, psychology, medicine, and dentistry, nail biting (NB) is a prevalent yet unsolved issue. Although many people assume that NB is a basic habit that can be readily corrected, many children who exhibit NB have previously attempted to correct the behavior and have failed.The aim of the present research focused on the reason for onychophagia or nail-biting if it is a psychological disease or a general habit and recommend some suitable suggestions. Methods:An inductive research approach was suitable for the present research methodology as it involved a survey process. The research approach helped in collecting information in an effective way. A stratified random sampling method was considered for the present research method through the inclusion of participants that are suffering from the issue of nail-biting belonging to the UK. The sample size for the research methodology included a total of 350 participants belonging to the age groups of 18 to 50 years. The primary data collection method was considered for the present research methodology as it followed the cross-sectional method. The quantitative data analysis method would be considered under the primary research method and so a survey would be done. Results: Of 380 study participants,more than half of them believe that nail biting is a psychological disorder (n= 219, 58.1%). Furthermore, about two thirds of study participants believe that nail biting is a common disorder among humans (n= 247, 65%). Most of study participants think that nail biting is curable (n= 296, 77.9%). Daily exercise is helping in reducing the habit of nail biting as reported by 178 (73.2%). Half of study participants were neutral with regard to the benefit of psychological treatment to nail biting (n= 184, 48.4%). Vast majority of study participants believed that exercise is effective for enhancing mental stability (n= 318, 83.7%).Leading a life with a the disorder or nail biting issue was moderately painful among 165 participants (43.3%). Participants were asked about the cost of medication for onychophagia, most of participants responded with affordable cost (n= 270, 71.1%). The most frequent symptom of nail biting issue as reported by study participants was moderate span of time (n= 234, 61.6%). Conclusion: Onychophagia is a psychological disorder from the perspective of study participants. Furthermore, they recommended medical treatment and stated that psychological treatment alone is not enough. Moreover, exercise helps with mental stability as reported by study participants.