Finally a treatment for hair pulling? Part 1

Hair pulling is a relatively common disorder in the general population. This agonizing disorder is more common in females and is often associated with an obsessive compulsive personality. Current estimates indicate that at least 2 million adult Americans over the age of 20 have this disorder. There are countless more individuals who have not been diagnosed or are too shy to visit a physician. Despite being aware about this disorder for decades, the treatment for hair pulling or Trichotillomania has not been very satisfactory. Over the years, countless treatments have come and gone. Today, pharmacological drug therapy and behavior alterations are the mainstay of treatment but have limited success.

Recently a paper published in the Archives of General Psychiatry offers new hope for patients who suffer from Trichotillomania. In a small trial involving 50 individuals, it was observed that those who took the health supplement, N acetyl cysteine, had marked improvement of symptoms after only 12 weeks. N acetyl cysteine used in the study was obtained in a pill form from health food stores like GNC and Vitamin Shoppe.

If these studies do hold up, then this may herald a potentially new treatment for this disturbing disorder.

Why people pull hair remains a puzzle and there are countless theories. The bottom line is that chronic hair pulling is a diversion from a stressful situation, which eventually turns into addictive psychological relief. The majority of individuals not only pull hair from the scalp but also from other parts of the body. At least 20 percent of individuals even eat their hair and a very few minority pull other people’s hair. While hair-pulling sounds painful, most trichotillomanics claim that it provides a calming feeling and relief from the acute anxiety.

Treatment for hair pulling (trichotillomania)

Trichotillomania is a dreadful disorder and very little is known about it. For one thing, the disorder is associated with a lot of torment and internal turmoil. The most important aspect of this disorder is that the individual is not to be blamed for it. why Trichotillomania happens is not well understood and like most medical disorders bad luck or bad genes seem to part of the problem.

One reason why there is little known about Trichotillomania is because many individuals who have this disorder do not go and see their health care worker. Over the years, fear, embarrassment and lack of family support has driven these individuals into the closet. Medical professionals rarely come across individuals with Trichotillomania and most health care professionals have no idea how to treat it. Nevertheless, if one does seek help, there are some treatments that can improve the disorder. Two basic treatments are currently available for hair pulling.

Psychotherapy or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for Trichotillomania. It is a slow process but helps one understand the disorder and brings awareness to the problem. Over time, some individuals learn not to pull their hair. The therapy centers around control of emotions, stress and trigger factors. The triggers and negative behaviors are then substituted for positive things. For example, if one used to pull hair, then now one will go for a swim, read a book or cook a meal. CBT requires commitment and patience. It is not a one shot deal because recovery can take 3-8 months. Frequently CBT also entails family involvement to help members understand the disorder and what they can do to help the affected individual. Over time, CBT can help diminish urges to pull hair and relieves strong impulses causing disruptive behavior.

Does CBT always work? No. CBT does work when treatment is sought out early. In normal people who have capacity to understand and comprehend, the results are good. Individuals who have other problems like drug abuse, alcoholism or personality disorders, CBT does not work well. From anecdotal reports, about 30-50 percent of individuals do benefit from this therapy.