Comorbidity and quality of life in adults with hair pulling disorder

David C. Houghton; Joyce Maas; Michael P. Twohig; Stephen M. Saunders; Scott N. Compton; Angela M. Neal-Barnett; Martin E. Franklin; Douglas W. Woods

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2016.02.063

Comorbidity and quality of life in adults with hair pulling disorder

David C. Houghton, Joyce Maas, Michael P. Twohig, Stephen M. Saunders, Scott N. Compton, Angela M. Neal-Barnett, Martin E. Franklin, Douglas W. Woods

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hair pulling disorder (HPD; trichotillomania) is thought to be associated with significant psychiatric comorbidity and functional impairment. However, few methodologically rigorous studies of HPD have been conducted, rendering such conclusions tenuous. The following study examined comorbidity and psychosocial functioning in a well-characterized sample of adults with HPD (N=85) who met DSM-IV criteria, had at least moderate hair pulling severity, and participated in a clinical trial. Results revealed that 38.8% of individuals with HPD had another current psychiatric diagnosis and 78.8% had another lifetime (present and/or past) psychiatric diagnosis. Specifically, HPD showed substantial overlap with depressive, anxiety, addictive, and other body-focused repetitive behavior disorders. The relationships between certain comorbidity patterns, hair pulling severity, current mood and anxiety symptoms, and quality of life were also examined. Results showed that current depressive symptoms were the only predictor of quality of life deficits. Implications of these findings for the conceptualization and treatment of HPD are discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	12-19
Number of pages	8
Journal	Psychiatry Research
Volume	239
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2016.02.063
State	Published - May 30 2016
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Comorbidity
Depression
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Quality of life
Trichotillomania

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Psychiatry and Mental health
Biological Psychiatry

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10.1016/j.psychres.2016.02.063

Cite this

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title = "Comorbidity and quality of life in adults with hair pulling disorder",

abstract = "Hair pulling disorder (HPD; trichotillomania) is thought to be associated with significant psychiatric comorbidity and functional impairment. However, few methodologically rigorous studies of HPD have been conducted, rendering such conclusions tenuous. The following study examined comorbidity and psychosocial functioning in a well-characterized sample of adults with HPD (N=85) who met DSM-IV criteria, had at least moderate hair pulling severity, and participated in a clinical trial. Results revealed that 38.8% of individuals with HPD had another current psychiatric diagnosis and 78.8% had another lifetime (present and/or past) psychiatric diagnosis. Specifically, HPD showed substantial overlap with depressive, anxiety, addictive, and other body-focused repetitive behavior disorders. The relationships between certain comorbidity patterns, hair pulling severity, current mood and anxiety symptoms, and quality of life were also examined. Results showed that current depressive symptoms were the only predictor of quality of life deficits. Implications of these findings for the conceptualization and treatment of HPD are discussed.",

keywords = "Comorbidity, Depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Quality of life, Trichotillomania",

author = "Houghton, {David C.} and Joyce Maas and Twohig, {Michael P.} and Saunders, {Stephen M.} and Compton, {Scott N.} and Neal-Barnett, {Angela M.} and Franklin, {Martin E.} and Woods, {Douglas W.}",

note = "Funding Information: We would like to report that this study was supported by the NIMH of the National Institutes of Health under Award number grant R01MH080966 (Woods: PI). The funding organization was not involved in the design and conduct of the study. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. Funding Information: Drs. Twohig and Woods receive royalties from Oxford University Press for their published treatment guide for Trichotillomania. Dr. Woods has also received funding from the Trichotillomania Learning Center. Drs. Franklin, Neal-Barnett, and Saunders and Mr. Houghton and Ms. Maas report no financial conflicts of interest. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.",

year = "2016",

month = may,

day = "30",

doi = "10.1016/j.psychres.2016.02.063",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "239",

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T1 - Comorbidity and quality of life in adults with hair pulling disorder

AU - Houghton, David C.

AU - Maas, Joyce

AU - Twohig, Michael P.

AU - Saunders, Stephen M.

AU - Compton, Scott N.

AU - Neal-Barnett, Angela M.

AU - Franklin, Martin E.

AU - Woods, Douglas W.

N1 - Funding Information: We would like to report that this study was supported by the NIMH of the National Institutes of Health under Award number grant R01MH080966 (Woods: PI). The funding organization was not involved in the design and conduct of the study. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. Funding Information: Drs. Twohig and Woods receive royalties from Oxford University Press for their published treatment guide for Trichotillomania. Dr. Woods has also received funding from the Trichotillomania Learning Center. Drs. Franklin, Neal-Barnett, and Saunders and Mr. Houghton and Ms. Maas report no financial conflicts of interest. Publisher Copyright: © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

PY - 2016/5/30

Y1 - 2016/5/30

N2 - Hair pulling disorder (HPD; trichotillomania) is thought to be associated with significant psychiatric comorbidity and functional impairment. However, few methodologically rigorous studies of HPD have been conducted, rendering such conclusions tenuous. The following study examined comorbidity and psychosocial functioning in a well-characterized sample of adults with HPD (N=85) who met DSM-IV criteria, had at least moderate hair pulling severity, and participated in a clinical trial. Results revealed that 38.8% of individuals with HPD had another current psychiatric diagnosis and 78.8% had another lifetime (present and/or past) psychiatric diagnosis. Specifically, HPD showed substantial overlap with depressive, anxiety, addictive, and other body-focused repetitive behavior disorders. The relationships between certain comorbidity patterns, hair pulling severity, current mood and anxiety symptoms, and quality of life were also examined. Results showed that current depressive symptoms were the only predictor of quality of life deficits. Implications of these findings for the conceptualization and treatment of HPD are discussed.

AB - Hair pulling disorder (HPD; trichotillomania) is thought to be associated with significant psychiatric comorbidity and functional impairment. However, few methodologically rigorous studies of HPD have been conducted, rendering such conclusions tenuous. The following study examined comorbidity and psychosocial functioning in a well-characterized sample of adults with HPD (N=85) who met DSM-IV criteria, had at least moderate hair pulling severity, and participated in a clinical trial. Results revealed that 38.8% of individuals with HPD had another current psychiatric diagnosis and 78.8% had another lifetime (present and/or past) psychiatric diagnosis. Specifically, HPD showed substantial overlap with depressive, anxiety, addictive, and other body-focused repetitive behavior disorders. The relationships between certain comorbidity patterns, hair pulling severity, current mood and anxiety symptoms, and quality of life were also examined. Results showed that current depressive symptoms were the only predictor of quality of life deficits. Implications of these findings for the conceptualization and treatment of HPD are discussed.

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KW - Quality of life

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Comorbidity and quality of life in adults with hair pulling disorder

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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