A-090 Response Time on Cognitive Measures is Associated with Motor-Based Strategy Use in a Trichotillomania Treatment Sample

Abstract

Abstract Objective This study used follow-up data from a randomized controlled trial of a cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention for trichotillomania. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between strategy use and two cognitive measures. Method Thirty participants met diagnostic criteria at the start of the study and completed a follow-up assessment 3- or 6-months post-treatment. The sample was 80% female and the mean age was 34.Participants completed a trichotillomania strategy use form which presents a list of strategies that are organized into 5 categories: sensory (e.g., using a scalp massager), cognitive (e.g., cognitive restructuring), affective (e.g., engaging in pleasurable activities), motor (e.g., using fidget toys), and place (e.g., putting sticky notes on mirrors). Participants were asked to circle any strategies they currently use, and the number of strategies used in each domain was counted. Participants also completed cognitive measures including a stop-signal task and a gambling task. Correlational analyses were conducted comparing the primary outcome variables on the cognitive measures to the number of strategies used in each of the 5 domains. Results Pearson correlations revealed significant negative correlations between the use of motor pulling strategies and mean decision-making time on the gambling task r (28) = −.619, p < .001 and stop signal reaction time r (28) = −.418, p = .022. Spearman rank-order correlations confirmed these results. Conclusion The use of motor coping strategies is associated with faster responses to task relevant stimuli. The current findings indicate that fast motor-based response time may make motor-based strategies more accessible to these individuals.