BACKGROUND: The major treatments reported to be effective in the treatment of trichotillomania are cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with habit reversal and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as clomipramine. However, the 2 treatments have not been previously compared with each other. This study examines the efficacy of CBT and clomipramine compared with placebo in the treatment of trichotillomania. METHOD: Twenty-three patients with trichotillomania as determined by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R entered and 16 completed a 9-week, placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel-treatment study of CBT and clomipramine. Efficacy was evaluated by the Trichotillomania Severity Scale, the Trichotillomania Impairment Scale, and the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale, which were conducted by an independent assessor blinded to the treatment condition. RESULTS:CBT had a dramatic effect in reducing symptoms of trichotillomania and was significantly more effective than clomipramine (p = .016) or placebo (p = .026). Clomipramine resulted in symptom reduction greater than that with placebo, but the difference fell short of statistical significance. Placebo response was minimal. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware of the potential treatments available for trichotillomania. A larger and more definitive study comparing CBT and a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor is indicated.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: The major treatments reported to be effective in the treatment of trichotillomania are cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with habit reversal and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as clomipramine. However, the 2 treatments have not been previously compared with each other. This study examines the efficacy of CBT and clomipramine compared with placebo in the treatment of trichotillomania. METHOD: Twenty-three patients with trichotillomania as determined by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R entered and 16 completed a 9-week, placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel-treatment study of CBT and clomipramine. Efficacy was evaluated by the Trichotillomania Severity Scale, the Trichotillomania Impairment Scale, and the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale, which were conducted by an independent assessor blinded to the treatment condition. RESULTS: CBT had a dramatic effect in reducing symptoms of trichotillomania and was significantly more effective than clomipramine (p = .016) or placebo (p = .026). Clomipramine resulted in symptom reduction greater than that with placebo, but the difference fell short of statistical significance. Placebo response was minimal. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware of the potential treatments available for trichotillomania. A larger and more definitive study comparing CBT and a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor is indicated.
Authors: David C Houghton; Scott N Compton; Michael P Twohig; Stephen M Saunders; Martin E Franklin; Angela M Neal-Barnett; Laura Ely; Matthew R Capriotti; Douglas W Woods Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2014-08-13 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: David C Houghton; Steve Balsis; Dan J Stein; Scott N Compton; Michael P Twohig; Stephen M Saunders; Martin E Franklin; Angela M Neal-Barnett; Douglas W Woods Journal: Compr Psychiatry Date: 2015-05-01 Impact factor: 3.735
Authors: Joseph F McGuire; Danielle Ung; Robert R Selles; Omar Rahman; Adam B Lewin; Tanya K Murphy; Eric A Storch Journal: J Psychiatr Res Date: 2014-07-26 Impact factor: 4.791
Authors: Martha J Falkenstein; Kate Rogers; Elizabeth J Malloy; David A F Haaga Journal: J Obsessive Compuls Relat Disord Date: 2014-10-01 Impact factor: 1.677