Relationship between compulsive buying disorder and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and impulsivity in patients with compulsive buying disorder (CBD). Materials and Methods: The medical records of 82 patients admitted to the Psychiatry Department of Cukurova University Medical School Balcah Hospital and diagnosed as CBD were investigated retrospectively. Patients' Turkish version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I), modified Turkish version of the Minnesota Impulse Disorders Interview (MIDI), Turkish version of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Version 11 (BIS-11) and adult ADD/ADHD diagnosis and evaluation inventory data were evaluated. Results: 50% (n=41) of the patients had at least comorbidity of one diagnosis of impulse control disorder not elsewhere classified. 42.7% (n=35) of the patients had a diagnosis of ADHD in childhood and 30.5% (n=25) in adulthood. In comparison of BIS-11 subscale scores of patients with ADHD and without ADHD, patients with the diagnosis of ADHD had statistically significant higher scores for BIS-11 subscales except motor impulsivity subscale. Conclusion: CBD is commonly seen in women, often accompanied by ADHD and other impulse control disorders. When the diagnoses of CBD and ADHD are overlapped, it is seen that features such as general impulsivity, attention deficit and lack of planning are more evident.