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The effects of rational-emotive therapy and self-instructional training on chronic hair pulling

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Abstract

A 17-year-old girl's extremely high frequency of hair pulling was treated by rational-emotive therapy (RET) followed by self-instructional training (SIT). A cognitive-behavioral model was employed to identify maladaptive thought patterns that were hypothesized to be occasioning high levels of anxiety that in turn was hypothesized to be maintaining hair pulling behavior. The use of an interaction-type design indicated that whereas RET leads to a modest decrease in hair pulling, the subsequent introduction of SIT in addition to RET leads to a rapid elimination of all hair pulling. Follow-ups at 5 and 21 weeks after the program terminated indicated no subsequent reoccurrence of hair pulling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education, University of Melbourne, 3052, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

    Michael E. Bernard

  2. University of Arizona, USA

    Thomas R. Kratochwill

  3. University of Wyoming, USA

    Linda W. Keefauver

Authors
  1. Michael E. Bernard
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  2. Thomas R. Kratochwill
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  3. Linda W. Keefauver
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Bernard, M.E., Kratochwill, T.R. & Keefauver, L.W. The effects of rational-emotive therapy and self-instructional training on chronic hair pulling. Cogn Ther Res 7, 273–279 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01205141

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01205141

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