Cue-induced craving in pathological buying: empirical evidence and clinical implications.
OBJECTIVE
Pathological buying is associated with marked distress and impaired functioning in important life domains. It is currently under debate whether pathological buying can be considered a behavioral addiction. In analogy to results reported in addicted individuals, craving reactions elicited by addiction-related cues might be an underlying mechanism for the etiology and pathogenesis of pathological buying.


METHODS
In the present study, 30 pathological buyers and 30 matched control participants were examined with a cue-reactivity paradigm consisting of shopping and control cues. Skin conductance responses, as well as subjective ratings for arousal, valence, and urge to buy, were assessed. Subjective craving reactions were measured before and after the cue-reactivity paradigm.


RESULTS
On a physiological level, skin conductance responses toward shopping cues were higher in pathological buyers (mean [M; standard deviation {SD}] = 0.26 [0.13]) compared with control participants (M [SD] = 0.19 [0.09]; t(58) = 2.29, p = .025, d = 0.60). On a behavioral level, the individuals with pathological buying rated the shopping cues as more arousing and more positive, and reported a greater urge to buy compared with control participants and with control cues. An increase in subjective craving after completing the cue-reactivity paradigm was observed only in the pathological buyers (Mpre [SD] = 1.95 [1.47], Mpost [SD] = 2.87 [1.79]; t(29) = 5.07, p < .001, d = 0.97).


CONCLUSIONS
Cue-reactivity and craving might be potential correlates for the development and maintenance of pathological buying. The results demonstrate similarities between pathological buying and substance or behavioral addictions and provide implications for clinical treatment.
From the Department of General Psychology: Cognition (P.T., K.S., M.B.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany; Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (A.P.), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany; and Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (M.B.), Essen, Germany.
Patrick
P
Trotzke
Katrin
K
Starcke
Anya
A
Pedersen
Matthias
M
Brand
D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D066249:Craving / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged