Pharmacological strategies for trichotillomania

Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2005 Jun;6(6):975-84. doi: 10.1517/14656566.6.6.975.

Abstract

Pharmacotherapy for trichotillomania (TTM) is not well established, due to a paucity of positive, controlled, long-term studies. Although selective-serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) seem to be the safest and best-established medication choices, positive treatment response is not consistent in the literature. Treatment response is often disrupted by significant relapse. Behavioural therapy may be a more effective treatment for some patients. For other patients, other antidepressants, neuroleptics or even topical agents may be helpful. Future investigations should include more controlled studies and longer observation for relapse.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / complications
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / drug therapy
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / psychology
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Trichotillomania / complications
  • Trichotillomania / drug therapy*
  • Trichotillomania / psychology*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors