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Defining Compulsive Behavior.

Judy Luigjes1,2, Valentina Lorenzetti3, Sanneke de Haan4

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, PA3.227, PO Box 22660, 1100DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. judyluigjes@gmail.com.

Neuropsychology Review
|April 25, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Defining compulsivity is crucial for understanding problematic behaviors. This study proposes a unified definition: repetitive acts performed under a perceived obligation, despite awareness of goal conflict.

Keywords:
CompulsivityDefinitionObservational perspectivePhenomenology

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Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Behavioral Science
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Compulsive tendencies are central to problematic human behavior, yet a lack of consensus on the definition of 'compulsivity' hinders research and clinical practice.
  • Vague conceptualizations of compulsivity create confusion and impede the development of dimension-based psychiatric approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To advance the cross-diagnostic definition of compulsive behavior by analyzing existing psychiatric literature.
  • To establish a precise and unified understanding of compulsivity applicable across various psychiatric disorders.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed for articles on 'compulsive behavior' or 'compulsivity'.
  • Nine original definitions of compulsivity were identified from 28 relevant articles.
  • Definitions were analyzed by separating phenomenological, observational, and explanatory elements.

Main Results:

  • Analysis revealed key descriptive elements applicable across diagnoses.
  • A proposed cross-diagnostic definition emerged: repetitive acts characterized by a feeling of obligation ('have to') coupled with awareness of goal incongruence.

Conclusions:

  • A unified definition of compulsive behavior enhances precision, transferability, and testability across clinical and non-clinical populations.
  • This refined definition is expected to facilitate comparative research and improve diagnostic approaches in psychiatry.