Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of ACT-enhanced Group Behavior Therapy (AEGBT) for mixed diagnosis groups including patients with trichotillomania (TTM) and skin-picking disorder (SPD) in routine psychiatric care.
Method: Adult patients (N = 40) with TTM and/or SPD received 10 weeks of AEGBT followed by five booster sessions. The primary outcome measure for TTM was the Massachusetts General Hospital Hairpulling Scale (MGH-HPS) and for SPD the Skin Picking Scale-Revised (SPS-R), assessed at posttreatment and at booster sessions.
Results: Results showed significant reductions in hair pulling and skin-picking severity from baseline to posttreatment and large effect sizes at posttreatment. Improvements remained significant at the 12-month follow-up for patients with SPD, but not for patients with TTM. Group attendance was high and few patients dropped out from treatment. The group format enabled therapists to see 25% more patients compared with an individual format.
Conclusion: The results provide initial support for the feasibility and efficacy of an adapted treatment approach for TTM and SPD.
Keywords: ACT; habit reversal training; hair pulling disorder; skin picking disorder; trichotillomania.
© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Psychology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.