Predicting Web-Based Self-Help Treatment Efficacy from Trichotillomania and Skin Picking Disorder Cue Profiles

StopPulling.com and StopPicking.com are web-based self-help programs that treat trichotillomania (TTM) and skin picking disorder (SPD). However, the programs’ efficacy is modest. This secondary analysis of a trial to improve web-based self-help adherence (Flannery et al., 2023) investigates whether BFRB cue profiles (assessed using SCAMP-TTM and SCAMP-SPD) predict treatment outcome.

Participants (n = 40 with TTM and 40 with SPD) accessed a ten-week treatment protocol of StopPulling or StopPicking following two weeks of self-control training or waitlist. Symptom severity and BFRB cue profiles were assessed at baseline, pre-treatment (2 weeks), and post-treatment (12 weeks).

Hierarchical and robust regression models indicate SCAMP-TTM and SCAMP-SPD cue profiles nonsignificantly predicted treatment outcome. Other factors regarding BFRB heterogeneity may contribute to variability in treatment outcomes. SCAMP-TTM and SCAMP-SPD showed good internal consistency across nine of ten subscales and good 2-week test-retest reliability across nine of ten subscales and warrant further psychometric analysis.