A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Crossover Study of Fluoxetine in Trichotillomania
November 1991
in “
American Journal of Psychiatry
”
Studysummary This study found that fluoxetine did not demonstrate short-term efficacy in treating trichotillomania in a placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover setting.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
In 1991, a study involving 21 adult chronic hair pullers tested the efficacy of fluoxetine, an antiobsessional agent, for treating trichotillomania. The study was a placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study with 6-week trials of fluoxetine (up to 80 mg/day) and placebo, separated by a 5-week washout period. Fifteen subjects completed the study, but the results showed no significant differences between fluoxetine and placebo in terms of hair pulling, the urge to pull hair, the number of hair-pulling episodes, or the estimated amount of hair pulled per week. Therefore, the study concluded that fluoxetine did not demonstrate short-term efficacy in treating trichotillomania.
