Treatment for hair pulling (trichotillomania) part 2

What about medications?

The use of medications to treat Trichotillomania is empirical. Because so little is known about the disorder, no one really knows what the best medications are, when to start the pill and for how long the treatment should be continued. The most common class of medications used to treat Trichotillomania are the anti depressants. There are no clinical trials on effectiveness of these drugs, but anecdotal reports do indicate that some patients do improve over time. Some patients need to take the anti depressants for 3-9 months to see an improvement. Because of side effects, compliance with these drugs is poor. Many patients stop taking the drug after 2-4 months. The most common complications of these drugs include weight gain, loss of libido, fatigue, and dry mouth. The side effects do stop when the drug is discontinued. Most experts recommend drug therapy with CBT for the best results.

The unfortunate thing is that not all individuals respond to drugs or CBT therapy. Many individuals do relapse even when the treatment is initially successful. Because the disorder can create havoc in one’s life it is recommended that one see a health care worker for help. Even though present day treatments are not ideal, in some individuals, drugs or CBT can help one make a dramatic recovery.

Alternative medicine

Because conventional medicine has not been successful in treatment of many mental disorders, including trichotillomania, many patients have been turning to alternative health care. There are reports that some individuals do benefit from hypnotherapy. When this treatment is combined with drugs or CBT, the frequency of relapse is much less. Alone, hypnotherapy works in less than 5% of individuals. The treatment is prolonged and requires patience and commitment.

Another technique that has been reported to help individuals with Trichotillomania is biofeedback. In this therapy, one is taught how to control or change certain physical responses. For example, when one encounters a certain stress, headache or a frustrating situation, biofeedback can help reduce tension and erases the urge to pull hair. The technique can also help decrease anxiety and helps control negative behaviors like pulling hair. However, on its own biofeedback often fails to work. For the best results, it must be combined with drug therapy or CBT.