A behavioral treatment of compulsive lip-biting

Area of Science:

• Behavioral psychology
• Dermatology
• Pediatric psychology

Background:

• Compulsive lip-biting and associated face scarring can be a long-standing, self-mutilating condition.
• Intractable cases often present significant challenges in treatment.
• Behavioral interventions are explored for managing such conditions.

Observation:

• A 12-year-old boy presented with a long-standing, intractable condition of compulsive lip-biting and face scarring.
• The condition was self-mutilating and had not responded to previous interventions.

Findings:

• A behavioral treatment regimen was implemented, including self-monitoring (tracking), response substitution, and relaxation techniques.
• This intervention resulted in immediate and sustained tissue repair.
• The patient experienced a complete cure of the compulsive lip-biting and face scarring.

Implications:

• Behavioral therapy, specifically a combination of tracking, response substitution, and relaxation, can be highly effective for treating compulsive self-mutilation in children.
• This approach offers a potential cure for intractable cases, leading to significant tissue repair and improved quality of life.
• The findings suggest that a multi-component behavioral intervention is a viable and successful treatment strategy for similar pediatric cases.