Treatment Strategies for Pediatric Trichotillomania: State-of-the-Art Review on Progress and Persistent Challenges.

Abstract

Trichotillomania (TTM) is a condition characterized by recurrent hair pulling, often resulting in hair loss and functional impairment. The disorder remains underreported in the pediatric population, despite high rates of psychiatric comorbidities. Moreover, diagnosing and treating TTM among children remains challenging due to a lack of standardized guidelines. Hence, this systematic review aims to evaluate the current treatment approaches for pediatric TTM. A comprehensive search was conducted of five databases, using the search concepts of trichotillomania, pediatric populations, and treatments/interventions. Studies were included if they (1) directly addressed the topic, (2) were of an appropriate study type (e.g., clinical trials, case-control studies, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, or interview studies), (3) were published within the past 10 years, and (4) appeared in peer-reviewed journals published in English. Ultimately, 10 studies met our inclusion criteria, from which data were extracted and synthesized following formal quality assessment. Our results indicate that behavioral interventions, particularly habit reversal training, consistently demonstrated the greatest therapeutic benefit. Pharmacological treatments, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, have been explored in various case series. Although some individuals have shown improvement, overall evidence remains insufficient to support pharmacotherapy as first-line. Alternative therapies, such as N-acetylcysteine, have also been studied, though findings are variable and require further investigation in pediatric cohorts. Our review underscores the importance of early behavioral intervention and the need for larger, controlled studies to inform standardized treatment protocols. Given the functional and psychosocial burden of TTM in youth, comprehensive management strategies are essential.