Habit Reversal Training in Trichotillomania: A Case Report

Abstract

Trichotillomania is a psychiatric disorder that involves repetitive hair pulling to the point of apparent loss. No approved treatment algorithm is available for trichotillomania. We present a case report of a 28-year-old female diagnosed as trichotillomania, with complaints of recurrent hair pulling resulting in noticeable hair loss. She was treated with Habit Reversal Training and a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (sertraline) over a period of 6 weeks. Habit reversal training includes self-monitoring, awareness training, competing response training, and homework assignments. The aim of this case report is to provide a brief description of habit reversal training, which is unfamiliar to many professionals.