Cross-Sectional Survey Examining Skin Picking and Hair Pulling Disorders During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In a survey conducted in 2020, researchers found that the COVID-19 pandemic led to increased symptoms in individuals with body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) such as hair pulling (trichotillomania) and skin picking (excoriation disorder). The study involved 460 participants with a self-reported BFRB diagnosis, of which 133 (28.9%) reported skin picking, 181 (39.3%) reported hair pulling, and 141 (30.7%) reported both. A majority of participants (67.2%) reported increased BFRB symptoms during the pandemic. Those with skin picking disorders reported a significant 2.2 point increase on the modified Skin Picking Scale-Revised, while participants with hair pulling disorders reported a 1.6 point increase on the Massachusetts General Hospital Hairpulling Scale. Of the 145 participants receiving active treatment for BFRBs, 55 (37.9%) experienced an interruption in therapy due to COVID-19. The study suggests that the psychological effects of the pandemic have led to increased distress and functional impairment in individuals with BFRBs.