Treating trichotillomania in a toddler: Variations on effective treatments

This study evaluated the effectiveness of variations of two treatments, att ention reflection and aversive taste treatment, previously round to be succ essful for managing trichotillomania and simultaneous thumb sucking in an 1 8-month-old boy. Results indicate that a modified attention reflection proc edure decreased both behaviors. However, an aversive taste treatment applie d to the thumb only when preceded by hair pulling decreased thumb sucking a nd eliminated hair pulling. The discriminative affects of punishment and co nsiderations fur treating habits ill small children when a targeted covaryi ng behavior is developmentally normal are discussed.