TrichTok: a teen-and-young-adult friendly video-based self-help for hair-pulling disorder
Official title: TrichTok: Developing a scalable, video-based mobile intervention with peer support for adolescents and emerging adults with trichotillomania
Funded at Habitaware, INC. · NIH-11312515 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new, teen- and young-adult–focused digital program using short videos and peer support to help people manage trichotillomania.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Habitaware, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $417,403 |
| NIH project number | 1R43MH143378-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11312515 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are 21+ years old with trichotillomania who want a flexible, self-guided digital treatment and have access to a smartphone.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without access to a smartphone or those who prefer face-to-face therapy may not benefit from this digital program.
What this research studies
TrichTok aims to deliver a scalable, video-based self-help treatment for adolescents and emerging adults with trichotillomania, designed to fit into busy student and young adult lives. The program uses brief, TikTok-style videos and peer-support components to address both hair-pulling behaviors and the emotional drivers like shame and anxiety. This R43 project will test a digital intervention that can be accessed remotely, reducing barriers to care such as cost, availability of trained therapists, and after-school scheduling. Outcomes will focus on reductions in hair-pulling episodes and improvements in mood, self-esteem, and functioning.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could provide a scalable, affordable, and accessible treatment option for youth and young adults struggling with TTM.
How similar studies have gone: Previous behavioral therapies for TTM show modest benefits; this project explores a novel, scalable digital format that is still being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Habitaware, INC.
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kumar, Sameer — Habitaware, INC.
- Study coordinator: Kumar, Sameer
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.