Behavioral Neuroscience of Buying-Shopping Disorder: a Review

Purpose of Review: This paper provides a narrative review of recent neurocognitive, pharmacological, and genetic findings in buying-shopping disorder (BSD). Recent Findings: Preliminary evidence from experimental neuropsychological studies indicates BSD is associated with reward-seeking, cue-induced craving towards buying/shopping stimuli and disadvantageous decision making under ambiguous risk conditions that may be attributable to disrupted emotional feedback. BSD is not linked to deficits in general executive functioning. Psychopharmacological studies with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or opioid antagonists are all preliminary with small samples. There is a paucity of research examining if BSD is inherited. Summary: BSD carries serious negative impact in important life domains and seems to reflect key components of disorders due to substance use or addictive behaviors. Future research should focus on neural circuits and genetics involved in BSD, classification and treatment development. There is a need for investigations concerning the relative contributions of psychosocial, neurocognitive, genetic, and physiological factors in BSD.