Oxford BFRB Conference

Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours (BFRBs) are a group of complex mental health disorders that are characterised by the uncontrollable urge to pull, pick, scratch, cut, or bite one’s own hair, skin, or nails. People with BFRBs often experience high levels of emotional distress as a result of these behaviours which can severely impact everyday life, causing avoidance and disruption at work, school and social situations. The behaviours can also lead to damage to the body, such as thinning hair or bald patches, skin lesions, scarring, and infection. Despite affecting an estimated 4 million people in the UK and Ireland alone, these conditions are still incredibly stigmatised and misunderstood, resulting in many people with BFRBs living in secrecy and shame. In fact, only a small minority of people with BFRBs ever seek help from a healthcare or therapeutic provider. (See BFRB UK & Ireland "What are BFRBs" page for more information). In partnership with BFRB UK & Ireland, we will be hosting the first Oxford BFRB conference in September 2024.