Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 21, 2026
08:17
Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
8.2K
Clarifying the Relationship between Trichotillomania and Anxiety
Jennifer R Alexander1, David C Houghton2, Michael P Twohig3
1Department of Psychology, Marquette University, Cramer Hall, 317, 604 N. 16th St., Milwaukee, WI, 53233, USA.
Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
|October 10, 2017
Summary
Cognitive anxiety, not somatic anxiety, significantly predicts Trichotillomania (TTM) severity. Psychological inflexibility mediates this link, offering new insights for TTM treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Trichotillomania (TTM) severity is linked to general anxiety, but specific anxiety dimensions' roles remain unclear.
- Understanding these dimensions is crucial for advancing TTM conceptualization and therapeutic interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationships between TTM severity and distinct dimensions of anxiety (cognitive and somatic).
- To explore the mediating role of psychological inflexibility in the association between anxiety dimensions and TTM severity.
- To validate the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) for measuring multidimensional anxiety in TTM populations.
Main Methods:
- Factor analysis of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) in 91 adults with TTM undergoing treatment.
- Regression analyses to examine the predictive relationship between anxiety dimensions and TTM severity.
- Mediation analysis to assess the role of psychological inflexibility.
Main Results:
- Factor analysis identified four anxiety factors: one cognitive and three somatic (neurophysiological, autonomic, panic).
- Cognitive anxiety dimensions, but not somatic dimensions, significantly predicted TTM severity.
- Psychological inflexibility was confirmed as a mediator in the relationship between cognitive anxiety and TTM severity.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive anxiety is a key factor associated with Trichotillomania severity.
- Psychological inflexibility plays a significant mediating role, highlighting its importance in TTM.
- Findings support refining TTM conceptualization and tailoring treatments to address cognitive anxiety and psychological inflexibility.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Anxiety: Overview
1.2K
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
1.2K
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder
813
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
813
01:28Social Anxiety Disorder
594
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where one might face humiliation, rejection, embarrassment, or negative evaluation. This disorder leads individuals to avoid activities like casual conversations, public speaking, or seemingly simple tasks such as eating, signing documents, or swimming, in public settings. Its impact extends beyond discomfort, often significantly interfering with daily functioning and quality of life.
594
01:30Stress and Mental Health
990
Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
990
01:27Panic Disorder
875
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and sudden minutes-long episodes of intense fear, known as panic attacks. These attacks may feel like heart attacks and often happen without warning or a specific cause. They can include symptoms such as rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, chest pain, trembling, sweating, dizziness, and a sense of helplessness. During a panic attack, individuals may feel as though they are experiencing a heart attack or are in a...
875
01:22Behavior Therapy
804
Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
804