Trichotillomania (TTM) is a challenging disorder to treat, often managed with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), though their effectiveness is uncertain. This document reported on an 18-year-old female patient with TTM who was successfully treated with the glutamate modulator n-acetylcysteine, highlighting a potential alternative treatment approach.
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October 2013 in “Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology” 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.
