Dermotillomania-Excoriation Disorder
Excoriation disorder (also referred to as chronic skin-picking or dermatillomania) is a mental illness related to obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is characterized by repeated picking at one’s own skin which results in skin lesions and causes significant disruption in one’s life.
Clstr1:
Wik1: W060
Diagnoses: Dermotillimania (Excoriation Disorder)
USPatnts: Est. 4%
WrldPatnts:
SexRatio: M;F+
AveOnset: Can be permanent
Brain Area: anterior cingulate cortices-not inhibiting uncontrollable picking; inadequate SAPAP3 gene may also be a factor
Symptoms: picking sores into skin on the body; follows tension with relief following the act; mostly on the face by fingers or tools
Progression & Effects: causes scarring and disfigurement followed by shame and guilt; 11.5% attempt suicide; 79% pleasure with picking skin
Causes: childhood sexual abuse, rage against authoritarian parents, dealing with stress; affected by other itching conditions
Productive Medications: SSRI (antidepressants which increase serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain)antianxiety, antipsychotics; inositol
Productive Therapies: habit reversal training (for example, close a fist for one minute instead of picking when the urge arose)
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Youtube Video: Skin Picking Disorder (Dermatillomania)
Amazon or Library Book: Skin Picking-The Freedom to Finally Stop
Click the book to link or order from Amazon.
4 CURRENT ARTICLES
FROM PUBMED
The world-wide medical research
reports chosen for each diagnosis
Clicking each title opens the
PubMed article’s summary-abstract.
- Therapist-Guided Internet-Delivered Acceptance-Enhanced Behavior Therapy for Skin-Picking Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trialby Mia Asplund on January 15, 2025
Despite its high prevalence, individuals suffering from skin-picking disorder (SPD) face limited access to treatment due to several factors, including geographical and economic barriers, as well as a shortage of properly trained therapists. Offering Internet-delivered therapy could be a solution to these barriers. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of therapist-guided Internet-delivered acceptance-enhanced behavior therapy (iBT) for SPD compared to a wait-list control condition....
- Skin Picking Disorder: A Canadian Retrospective Study of 83 Patientsby Louis Deschênes on January 6, 2025
CONCLUSIONS: This large-scale retrospective assessment of patients diagnosed with SPD broadens the scope of a frequent disorder in dermatology, showing older age patients, unexpected psychiatric comorbidities and inadequate continuity of care. Results highlight the need for a collaborative approach and for frequent reassessments of these patients.
- Borderline personality disorder in Trichotillomania and skin picking disorder: a survey studyby Jon E Grant on December 19, 2024
CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest relatively high rates of borderline personality disorder in people with BFRBs, in turn linked to more severe psychopathology and elevated lifetime suicide attempt risk. Perhaps the comorbidity with borderline personality disorder reflects a possible subtype of these behaviors that is more impulsive and may necessitate different treatment approaches.
- Anxiety and body-focused repetitive behaviors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of comorbidity rates and symptom associationsby Kathryn E Barber on November 27, 2024
Body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) disorders, including hair pulling disorder (trichotillomania [TTM]) and skin picking disorder (SPD), frequently co-occur with anxiety disorders, but reported comorbidity rates vary widely. Additionally, research on the relationship between anxiety and BFRB symptoms has yielded inconsistent findings. This meta-analysis and systematic review examined (1) the prevalence of comorbid anxiety disorders in individuals with BFRB disorders and (2) correlations...