title: Gender Differences in Compulsive Buying Disorder: Assessment of Demographic and Psychiatric Co-Morbidities.
abstract: Compulsive buying is a common disorder found worldwide. Although recent research has shed light into the prevalence, etiology and clinical correlates of compulsive buying disorder, less is known about gender differences. To address this empirical gap, we assessed potential gender differences in demographic and psychiatric co-morbidities in a sample of 171 compulsive buyers (20 men and 151 women) voluntarily seeking treatment in São Paulo, Brazil. A structured clinical interview confirmed the diagnosis of compulsive buying. Of the 171 participants, 95.9% (n = 164) met criteria for at least one co-morbid psychiatric disorder. The results found that male and female compulsive buyers did not differ in problem severity as assessed by the Compulsive Buying Scale. However, several significant demographic and psychiatric differences were found in a multivariate binary logistic regression. Specifically, male compulsive buyers were more likely to report being non-heterosexual, and reported fewer years of formal education. In regards to psychiatric co-morbidities, male compulsive buyers were more likely to be diagnosed with sexual addiction, and intermittent explosive disorder. Conversely, men had lower scores on the shopping subscale of the Shorter PROMIS Questionnaire. The results suggest that male compulsive buyers are more likely to present with co-morbid psychiatric disorders. Treatment planning for compulsive buying disorder would do well to take gender into account to address for potential psychiatric co-morbidities.
authors.affiliation: Impulse Control Disorders Outpatient Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7921-0080
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nicoli de Mattos
authors.affiliation: Addictive Behaviours Laboratory, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: Hyoun S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Impulse Control Disorders Outpatient Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marinalva G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Requião
authors.affiliation: Impulse Control Disorders Outpatient Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Marasaldi
authors.affiliation: Impulse Control Disorders Outpatient Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiana Z
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Filomensky
authors.affiliation: Addictive Behaviours Laboratory, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Hodgins
authors.affiliation: Impulse Control Disorders Outpatient Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hermano
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tavares
mesh_terms: D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires