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Responses > Compulsive Buying Disorder

Freedom of Information request Compulsive Buying Disorder

Response published: 25 June 2025

FOI Request

Can you please provide the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This query relates to shopping addiction, which is also known as Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) or Oniomania. Could the information please be provided in financial years. For background, I have been advised that: • GPs or NHS talking therapies would be the first point of call for such patients. • Generally those diagnosed with the condition would rarely be diagnosed with it on its own as other mental health problems are likely to be present as well. • The ICD-11 diagnosis criteria may be used and under that, this condition could be listed as ‘obsessive compulsive disorder - other’ (which was what gambling used to be noted as before it was added to the diagnosis criteria). 1. How many people have been identified as possibly having the condition (Compulsive Buying Disorder - CBD) during the following periods: a. 2020/21 b. 2021/22 c. 2022/23 d. 2023/24 e. 2024/25 f. 2025-to date 2. What is the age and gender of those mentioned in question 1? 3. If someone presented to the NHS with this condition, what support or treatment options are available? 4. How many people have been identified as having Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) alongside another mental health diagnosis? E.g OCD or ADHD. 5. What is the age and gender of those mentioned in question 4? 6. How many people have been identified as having a behavioural addiction e.g gambling, porn or gaming, during the following periods: a. 2020/21 b. 2021/22 c. 2022/23 d. 2023/24 e. 2024/25 f. 2025-to date 7. What is the age and gender of those identified in question 6? For questions 2, 5 and 7, I am not requesting any information that would identify patients.

FOI Response

Freedom of Information Request – Ref: FOI 068-2025

Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request. Please find our response below.

You asked:

Can you please provide the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This query relates to shopping addiction, which is also known as Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) or Oniomania. Could the information please be provided in financial years.

For background, I have been advised that:

  • GPs or NHS talking therapies would be the first point of call for such patients.
  • Generally those diagnosed with the condition would rarely be diagnosed with it on its own as other mental health problems are likely to be present as well.
  • The ICD-11 diagnosis criteria may be used and under that, this condition could be listed as ‘obsessive compulsive disorder – other’ (which was what gambling used to be noted as before it was added to the diagnosis criteria).

For questions 2, 5 and 7, I am not requesting any information that would identify patients.

1. How many people have been identified as possibly having the condition (Compulsive Buying Disorder – CBD) during the following periods: 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25, 2025 to date

2. What is the age and gender of those mentioned in question 1?

4. How many people have been identified as having Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) alongside another mental health diagnosis? E.g. OCD or ADHD.

5. What is the age and gender of those mentioned in question 4?

6. How many people have been identified as having a behavioural addiction e.g. gambling, porn or gaming, during the following periods: 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25, 2025 to date

7. What is the age and gender of those identified in question 6?

Our response:

Unfortunately, we do not record or report on this information in a way that would enable us to provide a response to these questions. The FOIA does not require organisations to produce information to answer a request if it is not already held.

You asked:

3. If someone presented to the NHS with this condition, what support or treatment options are available?

Our response:

Patients could access our NHS Talking Therapies, who provide CBT for anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Though not specifically commissioned to provide treatments for compulsive buying/shopping disorder, they would in many cases be able to offer CBT interventions tailored to the individual’s situation.

Next steps:

Should you have any queries in relation to our response, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you are unhappy with the response you have received in relation to your request and wish to ask us to review our response, you should write to:

Louise Moss
Head of Legal Services / Associate Director of Corporate Governance
c/o Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Edward Jenner Court
1010 Pioneer Avenue
Gloucester Business Park
Brockworth, GL3 4AW
E-mail: louise.moss@ghc.nhs.uk

If you are not content with the outcome of any review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further advice/guidance. Generally, the ICO will not consider your case unless you have exhausted your enquiries with the Trust which should include considering the use of the Trust’s formal complaints procedure. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.