Samone Eddington / Psychology / Faculty Mentor: Tracy Greer
Body-focused repetitive behaviors and disorders (BFRB/Ds) are self-destructive grooming actions characterized by skin-picking, hair-pulling, and more. BFRB/Ds are included within the obsessive-compulsive related disorders category of the DSM-V, occur during adolescence, and may even last throughout adulthood. This theoretical contribution evaluates existing research on whether pain thresholds, social pain, and sensory processing pain are potential antecedents to BFRB/Ds. There is a high comorbidity rate of neurodivergent diagnosis and the appearance of BFRB/Ds within this population. Despite the research on BFRB/Ds, these behaviors are largely unknown to the public. Approximately 4% of the population has a clinical diagnosis for BFRB/Ds. It is important to understand that BFRDs, such as trichotillomania and skin-picking disorder, can result in a disfigured appearance, marked by scars and bald-spots. These destructive behaviors can affect these individuals, increasing psychosocial pain and decreasing the likelihood that individuals with BFRB/Ds will seek professional help. Treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy, habit reversal therapy, and medications such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors have been used for BFRB/Ds. Still, many patients have been known to relapse despite the interventions, indicating inadequate treatment. Future studies should investigate treatments by assessing pain, frustration, perfectionism, and boredom levels in the neurodivergent population with BFRB/Ds.
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