title: Pharmacological strategies for trichotillomania.
abstract: Pharmacotherapy for trichotillomania (TTM) is not well established, due to a paucity of positive, controlled, long-term studies. Although selective-serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) seem to be the safest and best-established medication choices, positive treatment response is not consistent in the literature. Treatment response is often disrupted by significant relapse. Behavioural therapy may be a more effective treatment for some patients. For other patients, other antidepressants, neuroleptics or even topical agents may be helpful. Future investigations should include more controlled studies and longer observation for relapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children, Room 4300, 702 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
authors.forename: Kelda H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: McDougle
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014256:Trichotillomania / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors