Olanzapine Is Effective in the Management of Some Self-Induced Dermatoses: Three Case Reports

Self-inflicted dermatoses are often difficult to treat. We present three patients with excoriated acne, self-induced skin ulcers, and trichotillomania, respectively, whose symptoms responded favorably to a 2- to 4-week course of the atypical antipsychotic olanazpine at a dosage of 2.5 to 5.0 mg daily. In two of three patients, the efficacy of the olanzapine was most likely related to an attenuation of dissociative symptoms that were associated with the self-induced skin ulcers and trichotillomania.