Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Psychiatric Clinics of North America
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd
Publication Date
4-3-2025
Journal Article Version
Accepted Manuscript
First Page
1
Last Page
25
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Abstract
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) – enhanced behavior therapy (A-EBT) is the most empirically supported treatment for trichotillomania. The data supporting A-EBT for excoriation disorder (skin picking) is small but growing. In this paper we review the model behind A-EBT including support for targeting psychological inflexibility as well as the use of more traditional behavioral procedures to reduce non-focused behaviors. To date there are 15 studies investigating A-EBT for trichotillomania and skin picking across ages and treatment delivery methods (individual, group, telehealth, and asynchronous web-based delivery). The work has occurred by multiple research teams. Data on process of change is reviewed. Future directions and limitations are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Michael P. Twohig, Leila K. Capel, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Enhanced Behavior Therapy as An Intervention for Trichotillomania and Excoriation Disorder (Skin Picking): A Review, Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 2025, ISSN 0193-953X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2025.02.011.