Testing a New Therapy for Trichotillomania

NCT00872742 | Completed Phase 2

• 4 other identifiers: R01MH080966DATR A2-AIR1R01MH080966NIMH-3065236
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 85
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will test the effectiveness of a new behavioral therapy for adults with trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling).

Conditions

Trichotillomania

Keywords

Impulse Control Disorders; Behavior Therapy; Acceptance; Habit Reversal

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement Scale

  Measured after 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Massachusetts General Hospital Hairpulling Scale

  Measured at screening, baseline, and after 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Trichotillomania Severity and Impairment Scales

  Measured at screening, baseline, and after 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months

• Clinical Global Impressions-Severity Scale

  Measured at screening, baseline, and after 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months

Study Arms (2)

1

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive acceptance enhanced behavior therapy (AEBT) for trichotillomania (TTM).

Behavioral: Acceptance enhanced behavior therapy (AEBT)

2

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will receive psychoeducation and supportive therapy (PST) for TTM.

Behavioral: Psychoeducation and supportive therapy (PST)

Interventions

Acceptance enhanced behavior therapy (AEBT) BEHAVIORAL

Ten 1-hour sessions over 12 weeks, enhancing awareness of hair-pulling behavior and teaching strategies to deal with hair pulling

Also known as: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, ACT, Habit Reversal, Behavior Therapy

1

Psychoeducation and supportive therapy (PST) BEHAVIORAL

Ten 1-hour sessions over 12 weeks, teaching the participant about hair pulling and discussing how hair pulling affects those who do it

Also known as: Supportive Therapy, Psychoeducation

2

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Current DSM-IV diagnosis of trichotillomania
• Massachusetts General Hospital Hair Scale score greater than 12
• Wechsler Test of Adult Reading score greater than 85
• Fluent in English
• Outpatient status
• Agreement to not alter the dosage of any psychotropic medication throughout the course of the study, or, if such a dosage change is required, understanding that the participant will continue to receive treatment, and data will continue to be collected on him or her
• Individuals who eat their hair after pulling will be eligible for participation only after they have received a physical exam from their primary care physician to determine whether there is any gastrointestinal blockage due to hair pulling, which would require more immediate clinical care.

You may not qualify if:

• Diagnosis of bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder, mental retardation, pervasive developmental disorder, or current substance dependence (with the exception of nicotine dependence)
• Current mood or anxiety disorder with an active suicide risk
• Currently receiving psychotherapy for trichotillomania or another psychiatric condition
• Initiation or change in the dosage of any psychotropic medication for up to 8 weeks preceding participation in the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee: lead
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Marquette University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53211, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Barber KE, Woods DW, Deckersbach T, Bauer CC, Compton SN, Twohig MP, Ricketts EJ, Robinson J, Saunders SM, Franklin ME. Neurocognitive functioning in adults with trichotillomania: Predictors of treatment response and symptom severity in a randomized control trial. Behav Res Ther. 2024 Aug;179:104556. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2024.104556. Epub 2024 May 9.

  PMID: 38761558 DERIVED

• Houghton DC, McFarland CS, Franklin ME, Twohig MP, Compton SN, Neal-Barnett AM, Saunders SM, Woods DW. DSM-5 Trichotillomania: Perception of Adults With Trichotillomania After Psychosocial Treatment. Psychiatry. 2016 Summer;79(2):164-169. doi: 10.1080/00332747.2016.1144438.

  PMID: 27724833 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Trichotillomania; Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders

Interventions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Behavior Therapy; Palliative Care

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Anxiety Disorders; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Health Services; Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services

Study Officials

• Douglas W. Woods, PhD

  Marquette University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 2
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor of Psychology

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 30, 2009
• First Posted: March 31, 2009
• Study Start: March 1, 2009
• Primary Completion: October 1, 2013
• Study Completion: November 30, 2015
• Last Updated: October 5, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-09

Locations

US (1)