Childhood trichotillomania treated indirectly by punishing thumb sucking.
Trichotillomania was treated in a developmentally normal three-year-old by punishing thumb sucking. A behavioral analysis indicated a chain of behaviors that began with hair pulling and terminated in thumb sucking. The parents punished the thumb sucking by applying a bad tasting substance to the thumb. Both hair pulling and thumb sucking were rapidly eliminated. The child remained symptom free at 40 month follow-up. This study represents the third time trichotillomania has been treated in a preschooler indirectly by targeting finger sucking as the behavior to change. The significance of treating trichotillomania indirectly is discussed.
Knell
S M
SM
Child Guidance Center, Cleveland, OH 44115.
Moore
D J
DJ
D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005386:Fingersucking / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D011678:Punishment; D014256:Trichotillomania / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*