Habit Reversal Training and Variants of Decoupling for Use in Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors. A Randomized Controlled Trial

TY - JOUR

T1 - Habit Reversal Training and Variants of Decoupling for Use in Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors. A Randomized Controlled Trial

AU - Moritz, Steffen

AU - Penney, Danielle

AU - Bruhns, Alina

AU - Weidinger, Sarah

AU - Schmotz, Stella

N1 - © The Author(s) 2022.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - BACKGROUND: Behavioral interventions hold promise in improving body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), such as hair pulling and skin picking. The effect of combining different treatment techniques is currently unknown.METHODS: In the framework of a randomized controlled crossover trial, 334 individuals with at least one BFRB were allocated either to a waitlist control or to three experimental conditions (1:1:1:1). Participants in the experimental condition received self-help manuals teaching habit reversal training (HRT), decoupling (DC) and decoupling in sensu (DC-is) during a six-week period. Treatment conditions differed only in the order of manual presentation. We examined whether applying more than one technique would lead either to add-on or interference effects.RESULTS: The three treatment conditions were significantly superior to the waitlist control group in the improvement of BFRBs according to intention-to-treat analyses at a medium effect size (all p ≤ 0.002, d = 0.52 - 0.54). The condition displaying DC first significantly reduced depressive symptoms (p = 0.003, d = 0.47) and improved quality of life (p = 0.011, d = 0.39) compared to the waitlist control. Those using more techniques concurrently showed the strongest decline in BFRB symptoms, even after controlling for days practiced. Participants rated all manuals favorably, with standard DC and HRT yielding greatest acceptability.DISCUSSION: Results tentatively suggest the concurrent application of different behavioral treatments for BFRBs leads to add-on effects. Results were superior when DC was practiced first, with positive effects extending to depressive symptoms and quality of life. Integrating the three techniques into one self-help manual or video along with other treatment procedures (e.g., stimulus control techniques) is recommended.

AB - BACKGROUND: Behavioral interventions hold promise in improving body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), such as hair pulling and skin picking. The effect of combining different treatment techniques is currently unknown.METHODS: In the framework of a randomized controlled crossover trial, 334 individuals with at least one BFRB were allocated either to a waitlist control or to three experimental conditions (1:1:1:1). Participants in the experimental condition received self-help manuals teaching habit reversal training (HRT), decoupling (DC) and decoupling in sensu (DC-is) during a six-week period. Treatment conditions differed only in the order of manual presentation. We examined whether applying more than one technique would lead either to add-on or interference effects.RESULTS: The three treatment conditions were significantly superior to the waitlist control group in the improvement of BFRBs according to intention-to-treat analyses at a medium effect size (all p ≤ 0.002, d = 0.52 - 0.54). The condition displaying DC first significantly reduced depressive symptoms (p = 0.003, d = 0.47) and improved quality of life (p = 0.011, d = 0.39) compared to the waitlist control. Those using more techniques concurrently showed the strongest decline in BFRB symptoms, even after controlling for days practiced. Participants rated all manuals favorably, with standard DC and HRT yielding greatest acceptability.DISCUSSION: Results tentatively suggest the concurrent application of different behavioral treatments for BFRBs leads to add-on effects. Results were superior when DC was practiced first, with positive effects extending to depressive symptoms and quality of life. Integrating the three techniques into one self-help manual or video along with other treatment procedures (e.g., stimulus control techniques) is recommended.

U2 - 10.1007/s10608-022-10334-9

DO - 10.1007/s10608-022-10334-9

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 36415779

VL - 47

SP - 109

EP - 122

JO - COGNITIVE THER RES

JF - COGNITIVE THER RES

SN - 0147-5916

IS - 1

ER -