A Case of Comorbid Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Compulsive Buying Disorder

WOS: 000289561900013Nowadays, even though compulsive buying disorder itself is not placed under a separate diagnostic category in DSM-IV-TR, it is classified under the heading of "impulse control disorders not otherwise specified". In these cases, there is excessive buying and shopping, or inappropriate buying or shopping impulse or behaviors. The buying preoccupation, behaviors and impulses cause stress, social, professional and financial problems and are time-consuming. In these cases, the rate of psychiatric comorbidity is high. Especially major depression, mood disorders, anxiety disorder (particularly obsessive compulsive disorder), substance use, eating disorder (mainly bulimia) and personality disorders are frequently encountered. It was shown that compulsive buying is frequently seen in individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder. To draw attention that this subject is also a problem in our country, we reported a case followed in our outpatient clinic with the diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder and who showed depressive characteristics discordant with obsessive compulsive symptoms during follow-up controls, and in whom, after detailed evaluations, accompanying compulsive buying disorder was detected. This case is a good example to emphasize the importance of detecting comorbidities while developing treatment plan for psychiatric diseases. (Archives of Neuropsychiatry 2011; 48: 75-8