Digital therapies for hair pulling disorder in adults

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This randomized study investigates two digital health interventions for adults with trichotillomania. Participants will be randomly assigned to 8 weeks of either a digital behavior therapy that combines a wrist-worn motion detector with a mobile app offering education, self-monitoring, and behavior strategies, or a digital general wellness program with a reminder bracelet and a health-focused app. The goal is to determine preliminary how well the digital behavior therapy may help reduce hair pulling compared with a general wellness control. Eligibility requires adults with TTM affecting hair above the neck, English fluency, internet access, and no ongoing pharmacologic or psychosocial treatments targeting TTM during the trial. The study is led by HabitAware and collaborators at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, and plans to enroll about 90 participants.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. 18 years of age or older (criterion 1a) with a diagnosis of TTM focused on primary hair pulling location(s) above the neck (e.g., scalp, eyebrows, eye lashes, beard) (criterion 1b).
2. English language fluency (criterion 2).
3. Report no current pharmacological intervention targeting TTM symptoms OR a 6-week course of the intervention without change in dosage and intent for that dosage to remain stable for the 12 weeks of this trial (criterion 3a).
4. Report no current psychosocial intervention targeting TTM (criterion 3b)

4\. Reliable and consistent access to the internet and/or mobile device permitting the participant to meet with someone virtually for 90 min.

5\. Owns a mobile phone running on Apple's operating system (iOS 6+) 6. Identifies a support person that is able to be contacted if an emergency arises.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Current suicidal/homicidal ideation, intent, or plan (criterion 1a) or a diagnosis of another psychiatric condition that may impede a participant's ability to fully utilize the app (e.g., psychotic disorder, eating disorder, moderate to severe major depressive disorder \[defined by meeting diagnostic criteria on the MINI and a score \>13 on DASS-21\]) (criterion 1b)
2. Has not used HabitAware's Keen or Keen2 bracelet in the past 24 months.
3. Residing outside the United States

Where it's running

• Department of Psychological Sciences
  Kent, Ohio, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Sameer Kumar, BS
• Email: sameer@habitaware.com
• Phone: 248-990-4720

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Keen2 bracelet to increase awareness and reduce hair-pulling in adults with trichotillomania

  This study will try a Keen2 wearable bracelet to help adults with trichotillomania notice and reduce hair-pulling by detecting episodes and sending personalized vibration alerts.

  Recruiting HabitAware Inc. · Kent, Ohio · NCT07224126

• Group therapy for hair pulling disorder

  This study is testing if group therapy can help adults and teens with hair pulling disorder feel better by using a special type of treatment over ten sessions.

  Recruiting Oslo University Hospital · Oslo · NCT02747771

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.