A common belief is that compulsive behaviors trap people in a “habit loop” that takes over self-control. New research, however, suggests this explanation may be incomplete. For many years, compulsive ...

Compulsive shopping (sometimes called compulsive buying or shopping addiction) refers to a preoccupation with purchasing products and spending money. Compulsive shopping shares several characteristics ...

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have identified a brain circuit that can drive repetitive and compulsive behaviours in mice, even when natural rewards such as food or social contact are ...

An obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) attack, such as intrusive thoughts, can be overwhelming and may feel similar to a panic attack. People may have thoughts they wish they could stop thinking or ...

Sudden onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may result from infections such as Lyme disease, mononucleosis, mycoplasma, and influenza. OCD is a chronic mental health condition. People with OCD ...

Sex and love addiction is not an official psychiatric diagnosis. Instead, it is a colloquial (slang or informal) term used to describe a compulsive preoccupation with romantic relationships that ...