Posted by galkeepinon on November 8, 2003, at 2:10:49
In reply to a redundant skin-picking question, posted by lumpynikit on November 7, 2003, at 22:28:50
Hi and Welcome!!! :-)
Have you ever been informed about OCD, BDD and Trichotillomania?
I read about the efficacy of fluoxetine (Prozac) in the treatment of pathologic skin picking in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial.
21 adults with chronic pathologic skin picking agreed to participate and received 10 weeks of placebo or fluoxetine with a flexible dosing schedule up to 80mg a day. Three skin-picking measures were employed: the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale, the Skin Picking Treatment Scale (SPTS), and a visual analog scale of self-rated change (VAS). In addition, depression, anxiety, and obsessions-compulsions were rated using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A), the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) for the duration of the study.
The results were pretty interesting:
17 subjects (6 treated with fluoxetine and 11 treated with placebo) completed the trial, at a mean fluoxetine dose of 55mg a day. Fluoxetine was significantly superior to placebo in the treatment of skin picking according to two of the three measures for the completer analysis and to one of the three measures for the intent-to-treat analysis. Maybe, if you are open to taking psychiatric medication, this controlled trial, one of many, possibly, of the treatment of pathologic skin picking suggests that fluoxetine may be of therapeutic benefit, maybe it would be for you also.Also, the primary treatment modality for CSP depends on the level of awareness the individual has regarding the problem. If the CSP is generally an unconscious habit, the primary treatment is a form of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy called Habit Reversal Training (HRT).
HRT is based on the principle that skin-picking is a conditioned response to specific situations and events, and that the individual with CSP is frequently unaware of these triggers. HRT challenges the problem in a two-fold process. First, the individual with CSP learns how to become more consciously aware of situations and events that trigger skin-picking episodes. Second, the individual learns to utilize alternative behaviors in response to these situations and events.
Alos, skin picking is being identified as an obsessive compulsive disorder.
Are you perceiving imperfections or blemishes on yourself that no one else sees? You said 'i have ripped up my nails since i was 6, constantly have a 'lip problem' and will peel anything i can, often including others...(but not severly enough to warrrant any scarring, just a 'habit')'
It's also a condition where people say they don't know why they're doing it, but they can't stop despite the embarrassment. It is something that people do for no apparent reason, which interferes with their lives and work.This is just information that might outline the scope and treatment of this behaviour.
Best wishes to you,
Kristen
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> Hello, i am newly arrived here, after a little google searching. Your messages seem so supportive i thought i would try posting this most likely already exhausted topic..
> i have ripped up my nails since i was 6, constantly have a 'lip problem' and will peel anything i can, often including others...(but not severly enough to warrrant any scarring, just a 'habit')
> i have a high pain tolerance,
> would consider myself impulsive, and would say that i 'zone out' when i engage in these behaviours.
> i don't know what to call myself, am i impulsive/compulsive, am i episodic...
> i am sorry but i have never really analyzed this as a truly abberant behaviour, i don't even know where to begin.
> If anyone could share any information that might outline the scope and treatment of this behaviour, i would be really really gratefull.
>
poster:galkeepinon
thread:277642
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031105/msgs/277676.html