Risk and maintenance factors in body-focused repetitive behaviours

Background

Body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs), such as skin picking and trichotillomania, are conditions at the interface of dermatology and psychiatry.

Objectives

We asked individuals with various BFRBs about their habits and preferences preceding the onset of their BFRB(s). We also inquired about the emotions (positive, negative or mixed) accompanying the habit to explore predisposing and maintenance factors.

Methods

A sample of 201 individuals with mixed BFRBs were recruited online. We administered the Generic BFRB Scale (GBS-36) and the newly developed Somatic and Habitual Predisposition to BFRB Scale as well as the Ambivalence Towards BFRB Rating.

Results

Most participants reported both positive and negative feelings towards engaging in BFRBs, with only a minority (41.8%) indicating predominantly negative feelings. The study speaks to somatic and habitual predisposing factors that are topographically related to specific conditions (e.g., dislike of one's skin and skin impurities preceding skin picking, dislike of one's nails and brittle nails preceding nail biting, tendency to scarring and injuries preceding lip-cheek biting).

Conclusions

Our study speaks to important somatic and habitual predisposing factors in BFRBs. Positive feelings accompanying BFRBs may act as an important maintenance factor in BFRBs. Our results may inform new therapeutic approaches to treating or preventing BFRBs.