Behavioral therapy may beat medication for Hair-Pulling and Skin-Picking
NCT ID NCT05796752
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study compares two treatments for body-focused repetitive behaviors like hair-pulling (trichotillomania) and skin-picking disorder. 26 adults will first take memantine (a drug) for 8 weeks, then receive 8 weeks of behavioral therapy. Researchers want to see which approach reduces urges and behaviors more effectively.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Memantine (a cognition-enhancing drug) and Comprehensive Behavioral Therapy (ComB)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could show that behavioral therapy is more effective than medication for reducing hair-pulling and skin-picking urges and behaviors.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage crossover trial with only 26 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The study is not blinded, which can bias outcomes.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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University of Chicago Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States