Trichotillomania: Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

University of Sao Paulo

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Trichotillomania

Treatments: Other: Supportive therapy.; Behavioral: Cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01968343

CaPPesq 0013/08

Details and patient eligibility

About

Objective: Trichotillomania is a psychiatric condition characterized by chronic pulling and plucking of one's own hair. Cognitive behavioral therapy shows promise as a treatment. However, there have been no randomized, controlled studies of the efficacy of group cognitive-behavioral therapy. Methods: We evaluated 44 subjects, whom met the criteria for a diagnosis of trichotillomania. Subjects were randomized to receive 22 sessions of either group cognitive-behavioral therapy or group supportive therapy (control).

Enrollment: 44 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients having been diagnosed with trichotillomania according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM-IV) criteria; being at least 18 years of age; and having had four or more years of schooling.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients that having been diagnosed with trichotillomania according to DSM-IV criteria; having less of 18 years of age; and having less of four years of schooling.
• Patients with a history of suicidal ideation,
• Patients with any clinical pathology requiring emergency treatment at admission,
• Patients with mental retardation or any other central nervous system disorder that severely impairs cognitive function,
• those with a psychotic disorder,
• those currently being treated with psychotropic drugs,
• those with any DSM-IV axis II diagnosis,
• those who scored ≤ 2 on the MGH-HPS in an initial screening.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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44 participants in 2 patient groups

Group cognitive-behavioral therapy

Experimental group

Description:

22 subjects, all of whom met the criteria for a diagnosis of trichotillomania established in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Subjects receive 22 sessions of group cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Group supportive therapy (control)

Active Comparator group

Description:

22 subjects, all of whom met the criteria for a diagnosis of trichotillomania established in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Subjects receive 22 sessions of group supportive therapy (control).

Treatment:

Other: Supportive therapy.