Pilot trial of dialectical behavior therapy-enhanced habit reversal for trichotillomania

Abstract

Background: Not all hair pullers improve acutely with cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) and few maintain their gains over time.

Methods: We conducted an open clinical trial of a new treatment that addresses affectively triggered pulling and emphasizes relapse prevention in addition to standard CBT approaches. Ten female participants satisfying DSM-IV criteria for trichotillomania (TTM) at two study sites received Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)-enhanced CBT consisting of 11 weekly sessions and 4 maintenance sessions over the following 3 months. Independent assessors rated hair pulling impairment and global improvement at several study time points. Participants completed self-report measures of hair pulling severity and emotion regulation.

Results: Significant improvement in hair pulling severity and emotion regulation, as well as hair pulling impairment and anxiety and depressive symptoms, occurred during acute treatment and were maintained during the subsequent 3 months. Significant correlations were reported between changes in emotion regulation and hair pulling severity during both the acute treatment and maintenance phases.

Conclusions: This study offers preliminary evidence for the efficacy of DBT-enhanced CBT for TTM and suggests the importance of addressing emotion regulation during TTM treatment.