Long-Term Maintenance Following Habit Reversal and Adjunct Treatment for Trichotillomania

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated behavioral treatment for trichotillomania in an 11-year-old boy who pulled hair from his eyebrows and eyelashes. Simplified habit reversal consisting of awareness training, competing response training, and social support decreased the behavior but did not eliminate it. A number of adjunct treatments further decreased and subsequently eliminated the hair pulling. Treatment was evaluated with direct observation measures of the behavior and product measures that showed regrowth of the affected areas following treatment. The effects of treatment were maintained 18 months following treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• 11-year-old boy
• hair pulling
• trichotillomania
• behavioral treatment
• habit reversal