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Trichotillimania
Treatments
Although there is no one treatment that has been found to help everyone, a
number of combinations of trichotillomania treatments have shown
promise. One of the most promising trichotillomania treatments
involves the use of behavior therapy.
Behavior therapy as a trichotillomania treatment works to alter
hair pulling behavior by identifying
the precise factors that trigger trichotillomania (hair pulling),
and employing learning skills to interrupt and redirect responses
to those triggers.
Trichotillomania treatments should be performed by someone who is trained in this method and well-versed in trichotillomania.
The therapist may encourage hair pullers to develop an increased awareness of the times of day, emotional states,
and other factors that promote hair pulling. This becomes a sign to being able to control the behavior
Some hair pullers have had success for trichotillomania treatments
with behavioral devices, such as:
Putting bandages on their fingers to interfere with hair pulling
Being trained in behavioral monitoring
techniques to help keep track of urges to pull, pulling, and situational
triggers for both
Training in respiratory control to help manage
urges to pull and to reduce general stress and anxiety
Using exposure therapy through a gradual, hierarchical approach
Training in habit reversal and stimulus control procedures
Other trichotillomania treatments also include the use of medications
or pharmaceutical therapy, which have also shown promise in reducing
the severity of trichotillomania
symptoms, especially when
coupled with behavior therapy.
If you or someone you know may require treatment for trichotillomania,
contact Rogers Memorial Hospital at 1-800-767-4411 for an initial
needs assessment or a referral to a treatment provider in your
area. To learn more about trichotillomania, visit our trichotillomania
page.
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