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N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of trichotillomania

2012; Medknow; Volume: 4; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.4103/0974-7753.100090

0974-9241

AnaRita Rodrigues-Barata, Antonellá Tosti, Antonio Rodríguez‐Pichardo, F. Camacho‐Martínez,

Eating Disorders and Behaviors

Trichotillomania is as medical condition caused by the patient himself by pulling out of is own hair, resulting in a perceptible hair loss pattern that frequently is associated with other psychiatric processes. Generally has a chronic course in most patients, and a challenging therapeutical management. There are several available options for is treatment, but the clinical response is not satisfactory in many patients. Recently, N-acetylcisteine, a glutamate modulator, has shown efficacy in the treatment of trichotillomania and other compulsive behaviors, and is considered a new alternative in the management of this condition. We describe two patients with trichotillomania successfully treated with N-acetylcysteine. Nevertheless, further studies need to be conducted to establish the appropriate treatment regimen and to evaluate it long-term efficacy in improving this chronic condition.