BFRB Research, Education, Advocacy & Change (REACH)

BFRB REACH seeks to improve our understanding of what drives and maintains body focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs), and improve the support available for people living with hair pulling (trichotillomania), skin picking (dermatillomania or excoriation disorder), nail biting, and related conditions.

REACH brings together researchers, clinicians, people with lived experience and partner organisations to advance the science of BFRBs and ensure that scientific discoveries lead to improvements in awareness, practice and support. Our work spans fundamental research into the psychological and physiological mechanisms underlying BFRBs; developing high-quality educational resources for people with BFRBs, professionals and the wider public; advocating for greater understanding of these often misunderstood conditions; and translating outputs into meaningful changes in clinical practice, public awareness and policy.

Everything we do is grounded in the experiences of people living with BFRBs and guided by the principle that research should address the questions that matter most to those it aims to serve.

Our team

Clare Mackay

Professor of Neuroscience
Polly Waite

The Paul Foundation Professor of Children and Young People's Mental Health
Alexis Economou

Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer