Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2019

Publication Title

CNS Spectrums

Abstract

The phenomenon of buying-shopping disorder (BSD) was described over 100 years ago. Definitions of BSD refer to extreme preoccupation with shopping and buying, to impulses to purchase that are experienced as irresistible, and to recurrent maladaptive buying excesses that lead to distress and impairments. Efforts to stop BSD episodes are unsuccessful, despite the awareness of repeated break-downs in self-regulation, experiences of post-purchase guilt and regret, comorbid psychiatric disorders, reduced quality of life, familial discord, work impairment, financial problems, and other negative consequences. A recent meta-analysis indicated an estimated point prevalence of BSD of 5%. In this narrative review, the authors offer a perspective to consider BSD as a mental health condition and to classify this disorder as a behavioral addiction, based on both research data and on long-standing clinical experience.

Keywords

Behavioral addiction, classification, compulsive buying-shopping disorder, hoarding disorder, obsessive-compulsive related disorder

Volume

24

Issue

4

First Page

374

Last Page

379

DOI

10.1017/S1092852918001323

ISSN

10928529

Rights

© the authors

Comments

Peer reviewed accepted manuscript.

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