The Assessment and Treatment of Trichotillomania

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary A.-H. Christenson
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Treatment ◽  
Habit Reversal ◽  
Hair Pulling ◽  
Psychiatric Interview ◽  
Treatment Approaches ◽  
Time Treatment ◽  
Habit Reversal Therapy ◽  
Situational Characteristics ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Additional Support

The successful treatment of trichotillomania necessitates an initial clinical evaluation of the cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and situational characteristics contributing to an individual’s hair pulling. Assessment also requires a comprehensive psychological/psychiatric interview to assess for comorbid illness, which may either contribute to hair pulling or require separate attention. Several instruments have been designed to assist in quantifying the core symptoms of trichotillomania and can be useful for monitoring treatment progress over time. Treatment approaches include medication, hypnosis, and behavioral therapies, especially modifications of habit reversal therapy. Controlled studies are few in number and are limited to only a few behavioral treatment approaches and medication classes. Research suggests that variations of habit reversal therapy have the greatest efficacy of the interventions investigated thus far. There is additional support for treatment with clomipramine, N-acetylcysteine, and olanzapine, in contrast to multiple other drugs that have been studied or suggested as useful for trichotillomania.

The Behavioral Treatment of Trichotillomania

1992 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Olasov Rothbaum
Keyword(s):  
Stimulus Control ◽  
Relapse Prevention ◽  
Behavioral Treatment ◽  
Role Play ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
Habit Reversal ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment ◽  
Hair Pulling ◽  
Cognitive Techniques ◽  
Treatment Package

A cognitive-behavioral treatment package aimed at alleviating trichotillomania, or hair-pulling, is presented. It consists of habit reversal and stimulus control to control hair-pulling, and relaxation, cognitive techniques, and role-play to manage the stress that often exacerbates pulling. Relapse prevention is addressed. This program has been applied successfully with several clients.

Behavioral Treatment of Trichotillomania

1984 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 987-990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Stevens
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Therapy ◽  
Behavioral Change ◽  
Behavioral Treatment ◽  
Aversive Stimulus ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Hair Pulling ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Treatment Procedures

The frequency of a 29-yr.-old woman's chronic hair pulling was reduced by training in awareness of the habit and the application of a mildly aversive stimulus. This report presents a review of the relevant literature on behavior therapy, a description of assessment and treatment procedures, data supporting the elimination of hair pulling, and a discussion of factors which might have influenced behavioral change.

A Simplified Behavioral Treatment for Trichotillomania: Report of Two Cases

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 993-995
Author(s):  
NATHAN J. BLUM ◽  
VINCENT J. BARONE ◽  
PATRICK C. FRIMAN
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Report ◽  
Behavioral Treatment ◽  
College Freshmen ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Behavioral Disorder ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Pharmacologic Treatment ◽  
Hair Pulling ◽  
Adolescents And Adults

Trichotillomania is a behavioral disorder characterized by habitual hair pulling resulting in alopecia. Although once considered extremely rare, a recent survey study of college freshmen suggests a lifetime prevalence of more than 3% in females and more than 1% in males.1 The recent literature on trichotillomania has emphasized the pharmacologic treatment of adolescents and adults. Some studies have reported decreased hair pulling in response to treatment with the antiobsessional medications clomipramine and fluoxetine2,3 However, Christenson and colleagues4 failed to demonstrate benefit from fluoxetine, and in a preliminary report Rothbaum and Ninan5 found greater decreases in hair pulling with a behavioral intervention than with clomipramine.

Life Charting of Affective Disorders

CNS Spectrums ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 21-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele S. Leverich ◽  
Robert M. Post
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Affective Disorders ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Treatment Approaches ◽  
Bipolar Illness ◽  
Longitudinal Course ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Number Frequency ◽  
Chronic Course

AbstractThe recurrent and frequently chronic course of affective disorders requires careful delineation of the number, frequency, and pattern of prior and current episodes and their response to pharmacotherapies to help develop optimal assessment and treatment approaches for these Potentially lethal medical illnesses. To better track and monitor the longitudinal course of unipolar and bipolar illness and to promote more effective management, we developed the retrospective and prospective National Institute of Mental Health Life Chart Methodology (NIMH-LCM). The principles of retrospective and prospective life charting are the focus of this article. Following introductory background information on affective disorders, the influence of Kraepelin's work and his use of life charts are reviewed as the basis and framework for the NIMH-LCM. The use of life charting both retrospectively and prospectively is discussed, with examples of its utility and benefits.

How Can Speech-Language Pathologists Think About Sensation During Swallowing Evaluation and Intervention?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Aarthi Madhavan ◽  
Nicole M. Etter
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Treatment ◽  
Sensory Information ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Clinical Importance ◽  
Functional Results ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Speech Language Pathologists ◽  
Swallowing Evaluation ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Swallowing Assessment

Purpose Both the enjoyment of foods and safe swallowing revolve around incorporating multiple streams of sensory feedback to form a positive sensory experience; these include information about the taste, smell, texture, temperature, and even the sight of food. Traditional swallowing assessment and treatment paradigms have primarily focused on the motor aspects of swallowing. However, sensory information is vital for not only enjoying foods while eating but also coordinating safe and efficient swallow behaviors. The purpose of this clinical focus article is to discuss the clinical importance of sensation in swallowing evaluation and intervention. Conclusions During their clinical assessments of swallowing, speech-language pathologists are already documenting the functional results of oropharyngeal sensorimotor impairments (e.g., residue). A combination of sensory and motor aspects is already integrated within current behavioral treatment strategies for dysphagia. Focused attention to the salient sensory features of swallowing has the potential to improve swallowing evaluation and intervention efforts. A discussion of potential future research in improved measurement and documentation of altered sensation is provided.

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