OCD Related Conditions Understanding Compulsive Shopping Disorder By Owen Kelly, PhD Owen Kelly, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, professor, and author in Ontario, ON, who specializes in anxiety and mood disorders. Learn about our editorial process Owen Kelly, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 15, 2020 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on September 17, 2020 Print Dan Dalton/Caiaimage/Getty Images Table of Contents View All Characteristics Who's Affected Treatment Future Research Although it's not officially described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), it has been suggested that compulsive shopping disorder, also known as compulsive buying disorder, is either a type of impulse control disorder, a behavioral addiction or possibly even related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Characteristics The characteristics of compulsive shopping disorder include: Difficulty resisting the purchase of unneeded items.Financial difficulties because of uncontrolled shopping.Preoccupation with shopping for unneeded items.Problems at work, school, or home because of uncontrolled shopping.Spending a great deal of time doing research on coveted items and/or shopping for unneeded items. Research has shown that compulsive shopping behavior is often accompanied by depression, anxiety, and other negative emotions. People affected by compulsive shopping disorder often report an uncomfortable tension that is relieved, at least temporarily, by shopping. Despite this temporary relief, many people with compulsive shopping disorder feel disappointed with themselves and depressed about their apparent lack of control over their behavior. Common items purchased include clothes, shoes, jewelry, and household items, such as containers, dishes, etc., with many compulsive shoppers unable to resist items on sale, in particular. Most people who are affected by compulsive shopping disorder prefer to shop alone or online rather than subject themselves to potential embarrassment by shopping with others. Is Compulsive Shopping Really an Addiction? Who's Affected It has been estimated that compulsive shopping affects around 6% of the population in the United States. Research has also shown that: Females are nine times more likely to be affected than males.Most cases of compulsive shopping begin in early adulthood and it is rare for this disorder to begin after age 30.One recent study shows that the prevalence of compulsive shopping disorder may be increasing over time as well. Problems with mood, such as major depressive disorder or an anxiety disorder, are often common in compulsive shopping, as is the presence of other disorders such as skin picking or hair pulling, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance abuse, personality disorders or binge eating disorder. Mental health professionals making a diagnosis of compulsive shopping disorder need to be careful to distinguish between compulsive shopping and the shopping sprees that can sometimes accompany mania in bipolar disorder. Another study found that compulsive shoppers: Had lower educational statusHad lower self-esteemHad more impulsive behaviorHad more mental distressHad more symptoms of OCDWere more likely to be femaleWere more likely to have some sort of substance like alcohol, tobacco, or drugs Interestingly, these same compulsive buyers were five times more likely to fit the criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD) than the rest of the shoppers were. Treatment Although research findings have been mixed, there is some evidence that compulsive shopping disorder responds to treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). There is also evidence that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) may also be effective in reducing symptoms in many compulsive shoppers, although more research is necessary to determine what types of therapy are effective for whom. Further Research Needed With the prevalence of this disorder, as well as the evidence that the number of people affected by it is increasing, more research needs to be done to learn how to more effectively screen and treat people who suffer from compulsive shopping disorder. Self-Help Groups for Shopping Addiction Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Zhang C, Brook JS, Leukefeld CG, De la rosa M, Brook DW. 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PLoS ONE. 2016;(11)12:e0167365. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0167365 Maraz A, Van den brink W, Demetrovics Z. Prevalence and construct validity of compulsive buying disorder in shopping mall visitors. Psychiatry Res. 2015;(228)3:918-24. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2015.04.012 Hague B, Hall J, Kellett S. Treatments for compulsive buying: A systematic review of the quality, effectiveness and progression of the outcome evidence. J Behav Addict. 2016;(5)3:379-94. doi:10.1556/2006.5.2016.064 Additional Reading Black. D.W. "A review of compulsive buying disorder". World Psychiatry 2007 6: 14-18. Maraz A., van den Brink W., Demetrovics Z. "Prevalence and construct validity of compulsive buying disorder in shopping mall visitors." Psychiatry Research, 228 (3), August 30, 2015. Aboujaoude, E. "A 1-year naturalistic follow-up of patients with compulsive shopping disorder". Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 2003 64: 946-950. Müller A., Mitchell J.E., de Zwaan M. "Compulsive Buying." The American Journal on Addictions, 24 (2), March 2015.