N-Acetylcysteine for Pediatric Trichotillomania
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | Any |
| Updated: | 9/23/2012 |
| Start Date: | October 2009 |
| End Date: | October 2011 |
| Contact: | Kaitlyn E. Panza, B.A. |
| Email: | kaitlyn.panza@yale.edu |
| Phone: | (203) 737-4809 |
Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of N-acetylcysteine for the Treatment of Pediatric Trichotillomania
Trichotillomania (hair pulling) has an estimated lifetime prevalence of 1-3%. Children with
trichotillomania can experience significant impairment due to peer teasing, avoidance of
activities (such as swimming and socializing), difficulty concentrating on school work and
medical complications due to pulling behaviors. Despite the fact that trichotillomania has a
childhood onset, no randomized, controlled trials have been completed in childhood
trichotillomania.
Research in adults with trichotillomania has demonstrated that most commonly currently
prescribed treatment for trichotillomania, (pharmacotherapy with selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors) is ineffective in treating this condition. By contrast, randomized
controlled trials in adults have suggested the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine as well as
behavioral treatments such as Habit Reversal Therapy.
The goal of this trial is to determine the efficacy of N-Acetylcysteine for pediatric
trichotillomania. N-Acetylcysteine is a glutamate modulating agent, with a fairly benign
side-effect profile.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Children aged 8-17 years.
- Primary DSM-IV diagnosis of trichotillomania or chronic hair pulling.
- Duration of trichotillomania greater than 6 months.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Comorbid bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder, substance use disorder,
developmental disorder or mental retardation (IQ<70).
- Recent change (less than 4 weeks) in medications that have potential effects on TTM
severity (such as SSRIs, CMI, naltrexone, lithium, psychostimulants, anxiolytics, or
antipsychotics). Medication change is defined to include either dose changes or
medication discontinuation.
- Asthma requiring medication use within the last 6 months.
- Known hypersensitivity or previous anaphylactoid reaction to acetylcysteine or any
components in its preparation
- Current use (within last week) of psychostimulant medications.
- Positive pregnancy test or drug screening test
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