Habit Reversal Training for Trichotillomania (Compulsive Hair Pulling) (compulsive hair-pulling)

One well-established cognitive-behavioral approach to treating trichotillomania is Azrin's Habit Reversal Training. This approach includes:

1) Teaching a competing reaction (grasping or clenching one's hands) and having the client clench or grasp their hands for three minutes whenever hairpulling is likely to occur or has occurred.

2) Increasing client awareness of movements specifically related to hairpulling, especially through self-observation in the mirror.

3) Identifying behaviors which preceed hairpulling, such as face-touching or hair-straightening.

4) Identifying situations that lead to hairpulling, such as watching television, reading, studying, or driving.

5) Training the client in relaxation techniques.

6) Practicing the competing reaction in response to nervousness and in response to behaviors and situations which lead to hairpulling.

7) Using the competing reaction to interrupt episodes of hairpulling.

8) Practicing positive hair-care behaviora after episodes of hairpulling.

9) Daily practice of the competing reaction in front of the mirror.

10) Charting each incident of hairpulling and impulses to pull hair.

11) Facing situations previously avoided because of hairpulling.

12) Involving a significant other who is taught to assist by providing positive encouragement and reminders.

13) Development of a list of problems resulting from hairpulling to both increase client motivation and to identify reinforcers influencing hairpulling.

Azrin, N. H., Nunn, R. G. & Franz, S. E. (1980) Treatment of hairpulling (trichotillomania): A comparitive study of habit reversal training and negative practice training. Journal of Behavioral Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 11, 13-20.

Replies:

There are no replies to this message.

| Behavior OnLine Home Page | Disclaimer |

Copyright © 1996-2004 Behavior OnLine, Inc. All rights reserved.