Hair-Pulling Disorder
August 2021
in “
Oxford University Press eBooks
”
TLDR New treatments for hair-pulling disorder focus on personalized approaches and combining therapies for better results.
Trichotillomania (TTM) is a disorder involving compulsive hair pulling, leading to hair loss and distress. Traditional treatments often faced challenges such as non-response or relapse. Recent advancements aimed to improve treatment by focusing on individual pulling patterns, inner experiences, and contextual factors. The chapter reviewed theoretical models and developments in behavioral and pharmacological treatments, including habit reversal training, the comprehensive behavioral model, and web-based treatments. Pharmaceutical options like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antipsychotics, naltrexone, and N-acetylcysteine were discussed as supplements to behavioral therapies. Despite progress in understanding TTM's clinical features, future research needed to rigorously evaluate treatment outcomes across diverse hair-pulling patterns.