Technology Assisted Treatment of Trichotillomania: Open Trial

NCT ID: NCT07224126

Last Updated: 2025-11-10

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

10 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-09-15

Study Completion Date

2026-01-09

Brief Summary

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This open-label feasibility trial evaluates the use of the Keen2 awareness bracelet for adults with trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder). Participants will use the bracelet for eight weeks. During the first four weeks, they will wear the device and log contextual information (such as emotions, location, and activity) after each detected hair-pulling episode. Based on these data, participants will then receive tailored predictive alerts designed to support use of stimulus control, competing responses, and coping strategies. The study will assess usability, adherence, and changes in self-reported hair-pulling severity and awareness.

Detailed Description

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This single-arm study is designed to test the feasibility and preliminary behavioral impact of a digital awareness intervention for trichotillomania. Participants aged 18 and older who report recurrent hair-pulling will receive a Keen2 bracelet and companion mobile app for an eight-week period.

Phase 1 (Weeks 1-4): Participants will use the device to detect pulling episodes and will record contextual information (such as time of day, emotional state, and environmental triggers) in the app following each detection.

Phase 2 (Weeks 5-8): Using data from the first phase, the system will deliver individualized predictive vibration alerts when behavioral patterns suggest increased risk of pulling. Alerts correspond to three intervention domains: (1) Stimulus control (reducing environmental cues), (2) Competing response training (engaging hands in alternative actions), and (3) Coping strategies (implementing relaxation or cognitive techniques).

Primary outcomes include usability, adherence, and changes in hair-pulling severity measured by the Massachusetts General Hospital Hairpulling Scale (MGH-HPS) from baseline to week 8, with a follow up at week 12. Secondary outcomes include knowledge of interventional domains as well as qualitative feedback on device helpfulness.

Conditions

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Trichotillomania

Keywords

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hair pulling disorder BFRB Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior trichotillomania trich

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Single-Arm Intervention: Keen2 Predictive Awareness Bracelet

Participants in this single-arm study will receive a Keen2 awareness bracelet and companion mobile app for an 8-week period. During the first 4 weeks, participants will use the device to detect hair-pulling episodes and record contextual details (such as time, emotional state, activity, and location) after each detection. In the second 4 weeks, participants will receive predictive vibration alerts generated from their prior behavioral patterns. These alerts are designed to prompt preventive actions across three domains: (1) stimulus control (reducing environmental triggers), (2) competing response training (engaging hands in alternative behaviors), and (3) coping strategies (using relaxation or cognitive techniques).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Keen2 Predictive Awareness Bracelet

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The Keen2 is a wrist-worn awareness bracelet paired with a mobile app that helps individuals with trichotillomania recognize and reduce hair-pulling behavior. The bracelet uses motion sensors to detect hand movements consistent with pulling and delivers gentle vibration alerts to increase awareness. During the first four weeks, participants log contextual information about each detected episode, including emotional state, location, and activity. Based on these data, the system delivers predictive vibration alerts during weeks five through eight to prompt behavior change strategies across three domains: (1) stimulus control, (2) competing response training, and (3) coping strategies.

Interventions

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Keen2 Predictive Awareness Bracelet

The Keen2 is a wrist-worn awareness bracelet paired with a mobile app that helps individuals with trichotillomania recognize and reduce hair-pulling behavior. The bracelet uses motion sensors to detect hand movements consistent with pulling and delivers gentle vibration alerts to increase awareness. During the first four weeks, participants log contextual information about each detected episode, including emotional state, location, and activity. Based on these data, the system delivers predictive vibration alerts during weeks five through eight to prompt behavior change strategies across three domains: (1) stimulus control, (2) competing response training, and (3) coping strategies.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* 18 years of age (criterion 1a) with a diagnosis of TTM (criterion 1b)
* Must reportEnglish as their primary language (criterion 2)
* Report no current pharmacological or psychosocial intervention targeting TTM symptoms OR a6-week course of either intervention modality without change in frequency,intensity, or dosage (criterion 3)
* Reliable and consistent access to the internet and/or mobile device permitting the participant to meet withsomeone virtually for 90 min.
* Must report owning/access to a mobilephone running on Apple's operating system (iOS)
* Identifies a support person that is able to be contacted is an emergency arises.
* Agrees to allow the Kent State research team to share home address, mobile number, andalternate number/email with HabitAware, Inc., for purposes of mailing Keen2device and setting up Keen2 system.

Exclusion Criteria

* Current suicidal/homicidal ideation, intent, or plan
* a diagnosis of another psychiatric condition that may impeded a participant's ability to fully utilize the app (e.g., psychotic disorder, major depressive disorder)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Kent State University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

HabitAware Inc.

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Department of Psychological Sciences

Kent, Ohio, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Christopher Flessner, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: (330) 672-2200

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Christopher Flessner, PhD

Role: primary

Related Links

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https://www.ksuparc.org/habit-aware

Link to KSU page describing the study

Other Identifiers

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R44MH114773

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

1943

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id