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 ...

Is compulsive behavior common in people with Alzheimer’s or dementia? When someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, many aspects of his or her life are forced to change and will ...

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 ...