The Effectiveness of Behavioral Therapy Versus Medicines When Treating Trichotillomania
May 2015
in “
UC Merced Undergraduate Research Journal
”
TLDR Behavioral therapies are more effective than drugs for treating trichotillomania.
The review analyzed the effectiveness of pharmaceuticals versus behavioral therapies in treating trichotillomania (TTM), a psychological disorder characterized by obsessive hair pulling and noticeable hair loss. It concluded that while both treatment methods reduced symptoms, behavioral therapies (such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Habit Reversal Training) were more effective than drugs. However, the review emphasized the need for more research to determine long-term effectiveness due to the common occurrence of relapse in TTM patients.