Comprehensive behavioral treatment for an adult with sensory-based trichotillomania: An illustrative case study.
- Authors
- Type
- Published Article
- Journal
- Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2018
- Volume
- 82
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 288–307
- Identifiers
- DOI: 10.1521/bumc.2018.82.4.288
- PMID: 30589578
- Source
- Medline
- Keywords
- Language
- English
- License
- Unknown
Abstract
Trichotillomania (TTM) is a poorly understood condition that causes significant impairment, but effective behavioral management strategies exist. The phenomenology of TTM is complex and requires an individualized treatment approach, and there are some important facets of TTM that have only recently been recognized. Specifically, contemporary research indicates that hair pulling is often performed to regulate aversive sensations and provide somatosensory reward. In this article, we describe the complex phenomenology of TTM, evidence-based treatment options, and illustrate a case of sensory-based TTM treated effectively with a comprehensive behavioral intervention.
