Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Behaviour Research and Therapy
Volume
164
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd
Publication Date
5-2023
First Page
1
Last Page
35
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Abstract
Trichotillomania is characterized by recurrent pulling out of one's hair, leading to significant hair loss and accompanied by clinically significant distress and/or functional impairment. The current study used data from a randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of acceptance-enhanced behavior therapy (AEBT) to psychoeducation plus supportive therapy (PST; active control) for trichotillomania in an adult sample. The objectives were to examine the moderating and mediating influence of trichotillomania-specific psychological flexibility in treatment for trichotillomania. Participants with lower baseline flexibility performed better in AEBT than PST in terms of greater symptom reduction and quality of life. Lower baseline flexibility also predicted higher likelihood of disorder recovery in AEBT relative to PST. In addition, relative to PST, symptom reduction in AEBT was mediated by psychological flexibility, controlling for anxiety and depression. These findings suggest that psychological flexibility is a relevant process of change in the treatment of trichotillomania. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Clarissa W. Ong, Douglas W. Woods, Martin E. Franklin, Stephen M. Saunders, Angela M. Neal-Barnett, Scott N. Compton, Michael P. Twohig, The role of psychological flexibility in acceptance-enhanced behavior therapy for trichotillomania: Moderation and mediation findings, Behaviour Research and Therapy, Volume 164, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2023.104302.
