 Subjects will take sertraline or placebo in a double-blind design. Subjects will be assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression HAM-D-17, Beck Depression Inventory BDI, Beck Anxiety Inventory BAI, Clinical Global Impressions Scale CGI, Hair Pulling Scale HPS, Trichotillomania TTM Impact Scale, Psychiatric Institute Trichotillomania Scale PITS, National Institute of Mental Health NIMH Scale, and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire Q-LES-Q at the start of the washout period and at the end of week two in order to be randomized into the study. Subject randomization to a treatment arm will be based on the random table and in equal proportions. 