The Opiate Antagonist, Naltrexone, in the Treatment of Trichotillomania

This study investigated the effectiveness of naltrexone, an opioid antagonist, in treating trichotillomania (TTM) in 51 adults over an 8-week, double-blind trial. While naltrexone did not significantly reduce hair pulling compared to placebo, it did improve cognitive flexibility (P = 0.026). Additionally, participants with a family history of addiction showed a greater, though not statistically significant, reduction in hair-pulling urges. The findings suggested that future research should explore the potential of targeting the opiate system for managing TTM in specific subgroups.