Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Psychiatry Research
Author ORCID Identifier
Kathryn E. Barber https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6359-8845
Douglas W. Woods https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8092-3256
Stephen M. Saunders https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9226-5011
Volume
333
Publisher
Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
Publication Date
3-2024
Journal Article Version
Accepted Manuscript
First Page
1
Last Page
36
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Abstract
Acceptance-enhanced behavior therapy for trichotillomania (AEBT-TTM) is effective in reducing trichotillomania (TTM) symptoms, but the durability of treatment effects remains in question. This study analyzed 6-month follow-up data from a large randomized clinical trial comparing AEBT-TTM to an active psychoeducation and supportive therapy control (PST). Adults with TTM (N=85; 92% women) received 10 sessions of AEBT-TTM or PST across 12 weeks. Independent evaluators assessed participants at baseline, post-treatment, and 6 months follow-up. For both AEBT-TTM and PST, self-reported and evaluator-rated TTM symptom severity decreased from baseline to follow-up. TTM symptoms did not worsen from posttreatment to follow-up. At follow-up, AEBT-TTM and PST did not differ in rates of treatment response, TTM diagnosis, or symptom severity. High baseline TTM symptom severity was a stronger predictor of high follow-up severity for PST than for AEBT-TTM, suggesting AEBTTTM may be a better option for more severe TTM. Results support the efficacy of AEBT-TTM and show that treatment gains were maintained over time. Although AEBT-TTM yielded lower symptoms at post-treatment, 6-month follow-up outcomes suggest AEBT-TTM and PST may lead to similar symptom levels in the longer term. Future research should examine mechanisms that contribute to long-term gain maintenance.
Recommended Citation
Kathryn E. Barber, Douglas W. Woods, Laura J. Ely, Stephen M. Saunders, Scott N. Compton, Angela Neal-Barnett, Martin E. Franklin, Matthew R. Capriotti, Christine A. Conelea, Michael P. Twohig (2024). Long-term follow-up of acceptance-enhanced behavior therapy for trichotillomania, Psychiatry Research, 333, 115767, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115767.
