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Fluvoxamine in the treatment of compulsive buying
D W Black1, P Monahan, J Gabel
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242-1000, USA.
Background:
The authors report the results of an open trial of fluvoxamine in the treatment of compulsive buying.
Method:
Ten nondepressed subjects were recruited through word-of-mouth and rnet restrictive inclusion/exclusion criteria. Subjects were assessed with the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale modified for compulsive buying, the Clinical Global Impression scale, and other measures. After a single-blind 1-week placebo run-in, subjects received fluvoxamine up to 300 mg daily for 9 weeks.
Results:
Nine of 10 subjects improved and were less preoccupied with shopping, spent less time shopping, and reported spending less money.
Conclusion:
We conclude that compulsive buyers can be recruited for research and their symptoms measured and monitored and, finally, that fluvoxamine may be effective in its treatment.