TLDR Behavioral therapy, N-acetyl cysteine, and olanzapine may help treat trichotillomania.
Trichotillomania, characterized by repetitive hair pulling leading to significant hair loss and impairment, was associated with co-occurring disorders and influenced by stress, emotional dysregulation, reinforcement, and genetics. Animal models and brain imaging studies suggested involvement of several brain regions. Although treatment data were incomplete, behavioral therapy, N-acetyl cysteine, and olanzapine showed potential benefits.
69 citations
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August 2006 in “Behavior Therapy” Group behavior therapy reduces hair-pulling symptoms more than supportive therapy but has limited long-term effectiveness.
180 citations
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November 1991 in “American Journal of Psychiatry” Fluoxetine was not effective in treating hair-pulling disorder in the short term.
417 citations
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March 1991 in “American Journal of Psychiatry” Most adult chronic hair pullers are women who started in their early teens, often have other mental health issues, and may pull hair due to underlying psychiatric conditions.
219 citations
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September 2016 in “American Journal of Psychiatry” Trichotillomania is different from OCD and is best treated with habit reversal therapy and specific medications.
3 citations
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January 2016 in “International Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics” Children with trichotillomania often pull hair from their scalp and may have other mental health issues.
5 citations
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November 2011 in “Expert Review of Dermatology” The document concludes that early diagnosis and a comprehensive treatment plan are crucial for managing hair loss in children, with a focus on both medical and psychological support.
7 citations
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May 2013 in “Optometry and vision science” Bimatoprost can help regrow eyelashes in people with trichotillomania.
8 citations
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January 2016 in “Case Reports in Psychiatry” Trichotillomania in dementia may be better treated with dopamine blockers like quetiapine than with SSRIs.
