Trichotillomania (TTM) – Compulsive Hair Pulling

TREATMENT

Today, treatment involves the use of drug assisted therapy and behavioural strategies either alone or simultaneously; counselling and talk therapies are without effect. The most widely used pharmacological treatment involves the use of the specific serotonin re - uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – Luvox, Zoloft, Aropax, Prozac, and Cipramil; however, they are not always efficacious. More recently, the atypical antipsychotics such as, Risperdal, Zyprexa and Seroquel have been shown to be useful, used alone or with an SSRI. The simultaneous use of a SSRI with an antipsychotic, which blocks the dopamine receptors, suggests that both the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter systems have a role in this condition. Behavioural treatments include the use of competitive response training, which requires using strategies that are incompatible with plucking, i.e. clenching one’s fist when the urge occurs, wearing gloves, playing with worry beads and securing together the fingers used for plucking.

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