Mindfulness Skills Deficits in Pathological Skin Picking Behaviours

Abstract

Introduction

Pathological Skin Picking (SP) is a psychiatric condition with a 2–5%-prevalence in the community and consists of repetitive picking behaviours associated to marked distress, which can cause significant skin damage. Research has evidenced a Focused SP subtype, typically occurring in response to negative emotions, an Automatic subtype, occurring without awareness during activities not related to the picking behavior, and a Mixed one. Mindfulness skills have been studied as a protective factor involved in the treatment of several psychiatric disorders. Studying Mindfulness deficits in SP might help to identify interventions tailored for specific subtypes of SP behaviours.

Objectives

The current study examined the relationship between Mindfulness skills and pathological SP behaviours.

Aims

The study aimed to investigate whether Mindfulness skills deficits uniquely predicted SP subtypes behaviours after controlling for general distress in a community sample.

Methods

Ninety-seven community individuals (mean age = 39.71, SD = 16.37, 59% females) completed measures of SP, Mindfulness skills and general distress (anxiety and depression).

Results

Lower Mindfulness skills of Describing Internal Experiences (B = −0.12, P < 0.05) and higher anxiety (B = 0.08, P < 0.05) predicted more severe Automatic SP. Lower Mindfulness skills of Non-judging Inner Experiences (B = −0.12, P < 0.05), higher anxiety (B = −0.12, P < 0.05) and higher depression (B = −0.12, P < 0.05) predicted more severe Mixed SP. Focused SP was not associated to Mindfulness skills and general distress.

Conclusions

Mindfulness skills deficits could be associated to Automatic and Mixed but not Focused SP. Future studies should investigate whether Mindfulness programs are effective for individuals reporting Automatic or Mixed SP behaviours.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.