Understanding trichotillomania (hair-pulling) and other body-focused repetitive behaviors, with Clare Mackay, PhD, and Suzanne Mouton-Odum, PhD

In this episode of Speaking of Psychology, host Kim Mills interviews Dr. Suzanne Mouton-Odum and Dr. Clare Mackay about body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) like hair pulling (trichotillomania) and skin picking. They discuss the definition, prevalence, and differentiation of BFRBs from habits and self-harm, as well as the neurological and genetic aspects. Dr. Mackay shares her personal experience with trichotillomania and how it influenced her research. The guests explore the relationship between BFRBs and other disorders like OCD, the role of social media, and effective treatment approaches, emphasizing the importance of addressing shame and promoting self-compassion. They also highlight resources for parents and future research directions in understanding and treating BFRBs.