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| ID | Type | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| R44MH114773 | U.S. NIH Grant/Contract | View source |
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| Name | Class |
|---|---|
| National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) | NIH |
| Kent State University | OTHER |
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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.
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.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-Arm Intervention: Keen2 Predictive Awareness Bracelet | Experimental | 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). |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keen2 Predictive Awareness Bracelet | 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. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Trichotillomania Symptom Severity (NIMH-TSS) | The primary outcome is the change in total score on the NIMH Trichotillomania Symptom Severity Scale (NIMH-TSS) from baseline to week 8. The NIMH-TSS is a clinician-rated scale assessing the frequency, intensity, and distress associated with hair-pulling behavior. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity. A reduction in score reflects improvement. | Baseline, Week 4, and Week 8 |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Flessner, PhD | Contact | (330) 672-2200 | anxiety@kent.edu |
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| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Psychological Sciences | Recruiting | Kent | Ohio | 44242 | United States |
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| Label | URL |
|---|---|
| Link to KSU page describing the study | View source |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D014256 | Trichotillomania |
| D014245 | Trichomonas Infections |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D009771 | Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder |
| D001008 | Anxiety Disorders |
| D001523 | Mental Disorders |
| D007174 | Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders |
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| D011528 | Protozoan Infections |
| D010272 | Parasitic Diseases |
| D007239 | Infections |