Pharmacological strategies for trichotillomania.

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.

• Authors: Kelda H Walsh, Christopher J McDougle
• Journal: Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy (Expert Opin Pharmacother) Vol. 6 Issue 6 Pg. 975-84 (Jun 2005) ISSN: 1744-7666 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 15952925 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antidepressive Agents
• Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors

Topics

• Antidepressive Agents (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (complications, drug therapy, psychology)
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Trichotillomania (complications, drug therapy, psychology)