Inclusion Criteria:

• men and women age 18-65
• current diagnosis of neurotic excoriation

Exclusion Criteria:

• unstable medical illness or clinically significant abnormalities on prestudy laboratory tests or physical examination
• history of seizures
• myocardial infarction within 6 months
• current pregnancy or lactation, or inadequate contraception in women of childbearing potential
• a need for medication other than Lamictal with possible psychotropic effects or unfavorable interactions with Lamictal
• clinically significant suicidality
• lifetime history of DSM-IV bipolar disorder type I, dementia, or schizophrenia or any other DSM-IV psychotic disorder
• current or recent (past 3 months) DSM-IV substance abuse or dependence
• illegal substance use within 2 weeks of study initiation
• initiation of psychotherapy or behavior therapy from a mental health professional within 3 months prior to study baseline
• previous treatment with Lamictal
• treatment with investigational medication or depot neuroleptics within 3 months, with fluoxetine within 6 weeks, or with other psychotropics within 2 weeks prior to study baseline
• current treatment with an anti-epileptic medication and
• patients who have previously been diagnosed with a medical condition that cause skin itchiness (e.g. liver, kidney, and blood diseases, etopic allergies)