Comparison of treatment seeking compulsive buyers in Germany and the United States.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this pilot study was to compare a German (Bavaria) and an American (North Dakota) sample of women suffering from compulsive buying.


METHODS
Thirty-eight German and 39 American female compulsive buyers were screened with the Compulsive Buying Scale (CBS), and the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale-Shopping Version (Y-BOCS-SV) prior to entering a group treatment study. Psychiatric co-morbidity was assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders (SCID).


RESULTS
There were no statistically significant differences between the German sample and the American sample with regard to age (mean 43.7 and 45 years, respectively), and with regard to the scores on the CBS and the Y-BOCS-SV. A high lifetime co-morbidity rate with Axis I disorders, especially mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, OCD, and binge eating disorder was detected in both samples. Almost all participants met criteria for at least one lifetime Axis I disorder. However, German compulsive buyers showed significantly higher current prevalence rates of any affective disorder, and higher current and lifetime prevalence rates of any anxiety disorder and somatoform disorder. In addition, German compulsive buyers were significantly more likely to have more than one Axis I disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
The groups did not differ with regard to age and with regard to the severity of compulsive buying and showed a high co-morbidity with Axis I disorders. However, the German compulsive buying sample presented with significantly more psychiatric co-morbidity compared to the American sample. Further research is needed to provide a better understanding of this disorder in general and cross-culturally.
Mueller
Astrid
A
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schwabachanlage 6, D 91054 Erlangen, Germany. astrid.mueller@psych.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Mitchell
James E
JE
Mertens
Christian
C
Mueller
Ulrike
U
Silbermann
Andrea
A
Burgard
Melissa
M
de Zwaan
Martina
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology