The relationship between compulsive buying and eating disorders.
OBJECTIVE
Compulsive buying has received increased research attention in the last decade. The disorder has high rates of comorbidity for other disorders, including eating disorders. This study explored the possible relationship between compulsive buying and eating disorders.


METHODS
Twenty women who scored in the pathological range on a measure of compulsive buying and 20 controls were recruited via the media. Various measures of psychopathology and eating disorder symptoms were administered to both groups.


RESULTS
Compulsive buyers were significantly more likely to have a higher lifetime history of substance abuse or dependence. No differences existed between normal controls and compulsive buyers in prevalence of current or lifetime eating disorders, nor were there differences in scores of eating-related psychopathology.


CONCLUSIONS
This work failed to demonstrate an increased risk for eating disorder in compulsive buyers, although a higher rate of substance dependence or abuse and higher scores on pathological personality dimension scales were seen.
Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Fargo, North Dakota, USA. mitchell@mail.med.und.nodak.edu
James E
JE
Mitchell
Jennifer
J
Redlin
Steve
S
Wonderlich
Ross
R
Crosby
Ron
R
Faber
Ray
R
Miltenberger
Joshua
J
Smyth
Marci
M
Stickney
Blake
B
Gosnell
Melissa
M
Burgard
Kathy
K
Lancaster
D000368:Aged; D001828:Body Image; D015897:Comorbidity; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires