By Casey Clark, writer, content strategist and BFRB advocate
If you struggle with body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) such as trichotillomania (hair pulling), dermatillomania (skin picking), onychophagia (nail biting), then you might be wondering if there's a cure for the condition. That's a very reasonable question because you probably don't want to have a BFRB for your whole life if there's a cure.
Even if you're not interested in a cure for BFRBs per se, you may be curious to find out whether there's treatment options that have shown long term success in managing body-focused repetitive behaviors.
Ahead, we spoke with therapists about whether or not there is a cure for BFRBs and what you can do to better manage your symptoms and the condition as you move throughout life.
Is there a cure for BFRBs?
Unfortunately, there isn't a cure for BFRBs as of now. According to Dr. Laura Chackes, Psy.D, licensed psychologist and owner of The Center for Mindfulness & CBT, like most mental health conditions, BFRBs are considered chronic health conditions, with no cure.
Essentially, this means there isn't one treatment that has been proven effective to work for everyone with body-focused repetitive behaviors.
Instead of having a goal to be "cured" from BFRB, a more realistic one would be to focus on recovery.
"Complete remission (zero symptoms) is quite rare, however, what is more common is what we call being in recovery," says Chackes. "This means that the person engages in the behavior occasionally, but not to the extent that it causes any serious damage."
In this stage, one is able to notice when they've slipped and start to engage in the behavior more, and then use their skills and self-compassion to get back on track.
"While in recovery, the BFRB does not cause significant distress or impairment of functioning any longer, so the person can live a full and happy life without their BFRB holding them back," Chackes adds."
What is the best treatment for BFRBs?
Although there is no cure for BFRBs, there are several evidence-based treatments that many people have found to be helpful in managing their symptoms.
Habit Reversal Training (HRT)
Habit reversal training is one of the first lines of treatment for individuals with body-focused repetitive behaviors. It's usually used in conjunction with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) when treating BFRBs.
HRT focuses on reducing unwanted behaviors by helping individuals become aware of their behaviors and triggers and then focuses on finding alternative behaviors and strategies that may be more helpful and less harmful.
Habit reversal training also has a pillar that involves garnering social support for one on their journey. This person can help be there when they are going through a rough patch and need someone to lean on or even to help hold them accountable to engage in a more healthier behavior or coping strategy when an urge arises.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
For those with BFRBs, the urge to engage in the behaviors will rarely ever go away completely although there may be extended periods of time where they aren't as bothersome.
"By fostering self-compassion and present-moment awareness, ACT reduces shame and helps individuals respond to urges in healthier ways, making it an effective approach for managing BFRBs," says Dr. Marla Deibler, PsyD, licensed clinical psychologist and executive director at The Center for Emotional Health.
Comprehensive Behavioral Model
The Comprehensive Behavioral Model (ComB) for BFRBs focuses on identifying and modifying different domains that maintain the repetitive behavior:
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Sensory – Similar to SCAMP, this refers to the physical sensation aspect.
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Cognitive – Thoughts that fuel the behavior.
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Affective – Emotional states that lead to engagement in the behavior.
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Motor – The physical execution of the behavior.
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Place – The environmental settings where the behavior occurs.
The SCAMP/ComB models can be used at the jump to help clinicians help clients modify their environment so individuals are more likely to manage the urge to engage in BFRBs. This helps more in terms of physical symptom management as opposed to determine the underlying triggers causing the behavior in the first place.
Medication for BFRBs
There are no FDA-approved medications for the treatment of BFRBs. With that said, evidence has shown that selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may help individuals manage other mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, that are commonly associated with certain BFRBs like trichotillomania. You'll want to speak with a psychiatrist to see if medication might be an option for you.
About the Author
Casey Clark is a writer and content strategist from New York City who specializes in mental health, beauty and travel. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, HuffPost, National Geographic and more.
