The endocannabinoid system and trichotillomania: A promising target for treatment?

Trichotillomania is characterized by the repetitive pulling out of one's hair leading to hair loss and functional impairment. Understanding the pathophysiology of trichotillomania is one approach to the eventual development of more effective treatment options for this disorder. The current body of neuroscience research in trichotillomania is limited, but the available evidence of disorders arguably related to trichotillomania (for example, Tourette's syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder) offers hints of possible mechanisms underlying repetitive motor behaviors. Preliminary research supports the possible use of δ⁹-tetrahydro-cannabinol in the reduction of tics and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. In addition, in an open-label pharmacotherapy study a cannabinoid agonist was effective in reducing hair pulling behavior in trichotillomania. Taken together, these findings suggest that pharmacological modulation of the endocannabinoid system may be a promising avenue to help reduce the compulsive motoric aspect of trichotillomania.