title: Treating Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder) in a Child.
abstract: Although cognitive behavioral treatments (CBTs) have been recommended as first-line interventions for trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder [HPD]), research on CBT for young children with HPD is limited. We illustrate the use of family-based CBT for HPD in an 8-year-old boy. The client had a 5-year history of chronic HPD and several large bald spots on the crown of his head. Treatment primarily comprised habit reversal training (HRT) and function-based interventions. The child showed significant improvement in HPD severity and impairment after 8 weekly sessions, although complete abstinence was not achieved. The findings underscore the importance of parental involvement in the treatment and show that children as young as 8 years of age can successfully use strategies taught in HRT.
authors.affiliation: University of Mississippi Medical Center. ivarsnorrason@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ivar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Snorrason
authors.affiliation: Bradley Hospital and Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Walther
authors.affiliation: University of Mississippi Medical Center.
authors.forename: T David
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Elkin
authors.affiliation: Marquette University.
authors.forename: Douglas W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Woods
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014256:Trichotillomania / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: children; cognitive behavioral; habit reversal; hair pulling; pediatric; treatment; trichotillomania