Leveraging Technological Advancements to Improve the Treatment of Trichotillomania
Purpose
This project will examine the effect using the Keen 2 on hair pulling styles (automatic and focused), the severity of hair pulling behaviors, and related psychiatric symptoms. Given that the Keen2 is anticipated to increase awareness of pulling behavior (but not necessarily change pulling behavior), the investigators hypothesize that the Keen 2 will increase awareness of pulling behaviors and reduce automatic pulling behavior. The investigators will explore reductions in overall hair pulling severity and related psychiatric symptoms.
Conditions
- Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder)
- Trichotillomania
- Hair Pulling
Eligibility
- Eligible Ages
- Over 18 Years
- Eligible Genders
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- 18 years of age or older; 2. meet diagnostic criteria for TTM using the TDI-R 3. have a MGH-HPS total score ≥ 12 at baseline; (3) have an "automatic" pulling score ≥ 15 on the MIST; (4) able to wear the Keen2 device for four weeks; (5) able to attend three study visits; (6) unmedicated or a stable dose of psychiatric medication for 8 weeks prior to enrollment; (7) be English speaking.
Exclusion Criteria
- an inability to complete rating scales, and 2. an inability to attend study visits
Study Design
- Phase
- N/A
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- N/A
- Intervention Model
- Single Group Assignment
- Intervention Model Description
- Participants will be provided with the Keen2 wrist-worn device to determine whether this device increases awareness of automatic hair pulling behaviors over a period of 4 weeks.
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None (Open Label)
Arm Groups
| Arm | Description | Assigned Intervention |
|---|---|---|
|
Experimental HabitAware Keen 2 |
Participants will receive the wrist device device that alerts the participant when the participant is engaging in hair pulling behavior. |
|
Recruiting Locations
More Details
- NCT ID
- NCT05003401
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Johns Hopkins University
Detailed Description
Novel technologies present one solution to help identify and reduce automatic pulling behaviors associated with trichotillomania (TTM). The Keen 2 is one such novel technology, which is a bracelet which gives the user alerts in the form of a vibration when the user is engaging in hair pulling behavior. Thus, using the Keen 2 could positively increase the awareness of automatic pulling behaviors, which is largely unaffected by existing evidence-based treatments like HRT. This information would be advantageous for the scientific community to determine the possible benefit of this approach to help individuals with TTM. This project will examine the effect using the Keen 2 on hair pulling styles (automatic and focused), the severity of hair pulling behaviors, and related psychiatric symptoms. Given that the Keen2 is anticipated to increase awareness of pulling behavior (but not necessarily change pulling behavior), the investigators hypothesize that the Keen 2 will increase awareness of pulling behaviors and reduce automatic pulling behavior. The investigators will explore reductions in overall hair pulling severity and related psychiatric symptoms.