Guidelines on the Treatment of Shopping Disorder

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Abstract
Introduction: (Online-)Shopping disorder can be understood as a specific internet use disorder or the virtual equivalent of offline compulsive buying-shopping disorder. This article summarizes treatment recommendations for shopping disorder in accordance with the German Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Internet Use Disorders. Methods: The recommendations are based on a preregistered systematic literature review ( Müller et al., 2023 ). In addition, findings of previous systematic reviews were considered. Results: None of the studies explicitly addressed online shopping. The results of four controlled psychotherapy trials indicate that cognitive behavioral therapy reduces compulsive buying-shopping. Three placebo-controlled trials utilizing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or topiramate demonstrated no superiority of the drug over placebo. The studies were limited by methodological weaknesses and high risk of reporting bias. Conclusions: Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered beneficial and should be offered to individuals with shopping disorder. There is a need for high-quality research with more emphasis on online shopping, mechanisms of change, and the combination of face-to-face and computer-based interventions (e. g., cue exposure training, cognitive bias modification). More research into the neurobiology of shopping disorder is essential to further develop pharmacological treatment approaches.

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