Guidelines on the Treatment of Shopping Disorder

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 (M & uuml;ller 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 ortopiramate 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.