Compulsive buying disorder: Conceptualization based on addictive, impulsive, and obsessive-compulsive features and comorbidity

This study sought to examine the conceptualization of compulsive buying disorder in a sample of adults drawn from the community and its associated mental health correlates. An online survey of “Personality, Mental Health, and Well-Being” was distributed to 300 adults aged 18 to 75 years. The survey measured a range of behaviors, such as buying behavior, alcohol and drug use, impulse control disorders, and dimensional constructs of impulsivity and obsessive-compulsiveness. A total of 294 participants (54.7% female) completed the survey and were included in the analysis. The overall frequency of probable compulsive buying disorder was 5.4% (n=16). Compared to adults without compulsive buying disorder, those with probable compulsive buying disorder were significantly less likely to identify as heterosexual and were significantly more likely to endorse attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, drug use problems, symptoms of borderline personality disorder, binge eating disorder, and had higher levels of compulsivity plus impulsivity. Compulsive buying disorder appears to be fairly common in adults and appears to have symptom or diagnostic overlap with obsessive-compulsive problems, addictive disorders, and impulse control disorders. Findings highlight the need for careful clinical screening to identify often overlooked comorbidities and treat them on an individual patient basis, as well as the need to conduct high-quality clinical trials for compulsive buying disorder itself and to explore its presentation longitudinally at large scale. • The frequency of probable compulsive buying disorder in a sample of adults was 5.4%. • Compulsive buying disorder appears to have symptom or diagnostic overlap with obsessive-compulsive problems, addictive disorders, and impulse control disorders. • Perhaps the debate on how best to conceptualize compulsive buying disorder reflects the fact that the disorder has overlapping features with multiple categories of disorders.