A preliminary investigation of acceptance and commitment therapy as a treatment for chronic skin picking

Behav Res Ther. 2006 Oct;44(10):1513-22. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2005.10.002. Epub 2005 Dec 20.

Abstract

The effectiveness of a deliberately limited version of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for chronic skin picking was evaluated in a pair of multiple baseline across participants designs. Self-monitoring of skin picking showed that four of the five participants reached near zero levels of picking by post-treatment, but these gains were not fully maintained for three of the four participants at follow-up. The findings of the self-reported skin picking were generally corroborated by ratings of photographs of the damaged areas and by ratings on a validated measure of skin picking severity. All participants rated the intervention as socially acceptable, and reductions were found on measures of anxiety, depression, and experiential avoidance for most participants as a result of the intervention. Results support the construction of more comprehensive ACT protocols for skin picking.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Awareness
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Psychometrics
  • Self-Injurious Behavior / therapy*
  • Skin / injuries*
  • Treatment Outcome