Addicted to Shopping : Overspending May Be Sign of Trouble

Imelda Marcos’ legendary spending sprees and 3,000 pairs of shoes may seem merely a humorous eccentricity, but researchers say that spending money on oneself can be indicative of emotional distress.

Buying unnecessary clothing or other presents can be therapeutic if done occasionally, said Dr. Howard Field, a professor of clinical psychiatry and human behavior at the University of Pennsylvania. But, he cautions, a pattern of spending money on oneself can become an uncontrollable and dangerous addiction, just like drug or alcohol abuse. The affliction affects women more than men.

For some, compulsive spending can indicate a lack of self-esteem. For others, it can be symptomatic of severe psychosis, manic depression and other forms of emotional disturbance.

“People often get a lift from buying that makes them feel good. A new possession makes them feel hopeful and proud, and people like that,” Field said.

But like all good things, there is such a thing as too much, he said. Compulsive spending can develop, characterized by periods of euphoria alternating with deep depression.

Field said he and co-workers have treated several dozen patients who sought help for compulsive spending.

‘Cannot Stop Spending’

“We got them in as patients for psychiatric treatment because they simply could not stop spending money,” he said. “A lot were in bankruptcy. It was breaking up marriages.”

Field acknowledges that Imelda Marcos, wife of ex-Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, is an extreme example of a compulsive self-rewarder, but he says her reasons for spending are all too common.

Her spending habits were prompted by insecurity and because she was poor as a girl, Field said.

Revenge against a cheating husband, the desire for approval and love and the longing to make up for a perceived loss such as a departed companion are some causes of compulsive spending, researchers say.

“There are a few cases where the patient is psychotic--really out of it,” Field adds. “They spend huge amounts of money they don’t even have.”

Bryce Templeton, a psychiatry professor and medical staff member at Jefferson Medical College and hospital, said that in many extreme cases the spender does not realize he or she has a problem. He suggests that family members recognize the aberrant behavior and get them appropriate treatment.

“We start off by having them throw away their credit cards (and) carry only enough money to cover specific purchases,” Field said.

“Like any other addict, we want them to get straight and to be able to ask for what they want in a direct way” instead of spending money to make themselves feel better, he said.