Treating Trichotillomania (Hair‐Pulling Disorder) in a Child

Although cognitive behavioral treatments (CBTs) have been recommended as first‐line interventions for trichotillomania (hair‐pulling disorder HPD]), research on CBT for young children with HPD is limited. We illustrate the use of family‐based CBT for HPD in an 8‐year‐old boy. The client had a 5‐year history of chronic HPD and several large bald spots on the crown of his head. Treatment primarily comprised habit reversal training (HRT) and function‐based interventions. The child showed significant improvement in HPD severity and impairment after 8 weekly sessions, although complete abstinence was not achieved. The findings underscore the importance of parental involvement in the treatment and show that children as young as 8 years of age can successfully use strategies taught in HRT.