Top

Published in:

Open Access 01-03-2019 | Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | Review

Defining Compulsive Behavior

Authors: Judy Luigjes, Valentina Lorenzetti, Sanneke de Haan, George J. Youssef, Carsten Murawski, Zsuzsika Sjoerds, Wim van den Brink, Damiaan Denys, Leonardo F. Fontenelle, Murat Yücel

Published in: Neuropsychology Review | Issue 1/2019

Abstract

Compulsive tendencies are a central feature of problematic human behavior and thereby are of great interest to the scientific and clinical community. However, no consensus exists about the precise meaning of ‘compulsivity,’ creating confusion in the field and hampering comparison across psychiatric disorders. A vague conceptualization makes compulsivity a moving target encompassing a fluctuating variety of behaviors, which is unlikely to improve the new dimension-based psychiatric or psychopathology approach. This article aims to help progress the definition of what constitutes compulsive behavior, cross-diagnostically, by analyzing different definitions in the psychiatric literature. We searched PubMed for articles in human psychiatric research with ‘compulsive behavior’ or ‘compulsivity’ in the title that focused on the broader concept of compulsivity—returning 28 articles with nine original definitions. Within the definitions, we separated three types of descriptive elements: phenomenological, observational and explanatory. The elements most applicable, cross-diagnostically, resulted in this definition: Compulsive behavior consists of repetitive acts that are characterized by the feeling that one ‘has to’ perform them while one is aware that these acts are not in line with one’s overall goal. Having a more unified definition for compulsive behavior will make its meaning precise and explicit, and therefore more transferable and testable across clinical and non-clinical populations.

Allen, A., King, A., & Hollander, E. (2003). Obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 5(3), 259.PubMedPubMedCentral

Baxter, L. R., Jr., Schwartz, J. M., Bergman, K. S., Szuba, M. P., Guze, B. H., Mazziotta, J. C., et al. (1992). Caudate glucose metabolic rate changes with both drug and behavior therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 49(9), 681.CrossRef

Berlin, G. S., & Hollander, E. (2014). Compulsivity, impulsivity, and the DSM-5 process. CNS Spectrums, 19(1), 62–68. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1092852913000722 CrossRefPubMed

Coles, M. E., Johnson, E. M., & Schubert, J. R. (2011). Retrospective reports of the development of obsessive compulsive disorder: extending knowledge of the protracted symptom phase. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 39(5), 579–589.CrossRef

Cuthbert, B. N. (2014). The RDoC framework: Facilitating transition from ICD/DSM to dimensional approaches that integrate neuroscience and psychopathology. World Psychiatry: Official Journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 13(1), 28–35.CrossRef

Dalley, J. W., Everitt, B. J., & Robbins, T. W. (2011). Impulsivity, compulsivity, and top-down cognitive control. Neuron, 69(4), 680–694. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2011.01.020 CrossRefPubMed

de Ruiter, M. B., Veltman, D. J., Goudriaan, A. E., Oosterlaan, J., Sjoerds, Z., & van den Brink, W. (2009). Response perseveration and ventral prefrontal sensitivity to reward and punishment in male problem gamblers and smokers. Neuropsychopharmacology: Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 34(4), 1027–1038.CrossRef

Denys, D. (2011). Obsessionality & compulsivity: a phenomenology of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine, 6, 3.CrossRef

Denys, D. (2014). Compulsivity and free will. CNS Spectrums, 19(1), 8–9.CrossRef

Figee, M., Wielaard, I., Mazaheri, A., & Denys, D. (2013). Neurosurgical targets for compulsivity: What can we learn from acquired brain lesions? Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 37(3), 328–339.CrossRef

Fineberg, N. A., Apergis-Schoute, A. M., Vaghi, M. M., Banca, P., Gillan, C. M., Voon, V., … Robbins, T. W. (2018). Mapping compulsivity in the DSM-5 Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders: Cognitive domains, neural circuitry, and treatment. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 21(1), 42–58.CrossRef

Fineberg, N. A., Chamberlain, S. R., Goudriaan, A. E., Stein, D. J., Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J., Gillan, C. M., … Potenza, M. N. (2014). New developments in human neurocognition: Clinical, genetic, and brain imaging correlates of impulsivity and compulsivity. CNS Spectrums, 19(01), 69–89.CrossRef

Fineberg, N. A., Hengartner, M. P., Bergbaum, C. E., Gale, T. M., Gamma, A., Ajdacic-Gross, V., … Angst, J. (2013). A prospective population-based cohort study of the prevalence, incidence and impact of obsessive-compulsive symptomatology. International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, 17(3), 170–178.CrossRef

Fineberg, N. A., Potenza, M. N., Chamberlain, S. R., Berlin, H. A., Menzies, L., Bechara, A., … Hollander, E. (2010). Probing compulsive and impulsive behaviors, from animal models to endophenotypes: A narrative review. Neuropsychopharmacology: Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 35(3), 591–604. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2009.185 CrossRef

Flessner, C. A., Knopik, V. S., & McGeary, J. (2012). Hair pulling disorder (trichotillomania): Genes, neurobiology, and a model for understanding impulsivity and compulsivity. Psychiatry Research, 199(3), 151–158.CrossRef

Fontenelle, L. F., Oostermeijer, S., Harrison, B. J., Pantelis, C., & Yücel, M. (2011). Obsessive-compulsive disorder, impulse control disorders and drug addiction: common features and potential treatments. Drugs, 71(7), 827–840.CrossRef

Gillan, C. M., Robbins, T. W., Sahakian, B. J., van den Heuvel, O. A., & van Wingen, G. (2016). The role of habit in compulsivity. European Neuropsychopharmacology: The Journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 26(5), 828–840.CrossRef

Godier, L. R., & Park, R. J. (2014). Compulsivity in anorexia nervosa: A transdiagnostic concept. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 778.CrossRef

Goodman, W. K., Price, L. H., Rasmussen, S. A., Mazure, C., Delgado, P., Heninger, G. R., & Charney, D. S. (1989). The Yale-Brown obsessive compulsive scale: II. validity. Archives of General Psychiatry, 46(11), 1012–1016.CrossRef

Grant, J. E., Fineberg, N., van Ameringen, M., Cath, D., Visser, H., Carmi, L., … van Balkom, A. J. L. M. (2016). New treatment models for compulsive disorders. European Neuropsychopharmacology: The Journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 26(5), 877–884. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.11.008 CrossRef

Grant, J. E., & Potenza, M. N. (2006). Compulsive aspects of impulse-control disorders. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 29(2), 539–551.CrossRef

Hopf, F. W., & Lesscher, H. M. B. (2014). Rodent models for compulsive alcohol intake. Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.), 48(3), 253–264.CrossRef

Koob, G. F. (2009). Neurobiological substrates for the dark side of compulsivity in addiction. Neuropharmacology, 56, 18–31.CrossRef

Koob, G. F. (2017). Antireward, compulsivity, and addiction: Seminal contributions of Dr. Athina Markou to motivational dysregulation in addiction. Psychopharmacology, 234(9–10), 1315–1332.CrossRef

Le Moal, M., & Koob, G. F. (2007). Drug addiction: Pathways to the disease and pathophysiological perspectives. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 17(6–7), 377–393.CrossRef

Leeman, R. F., & Potenza, M. N. (2012). Similarities and differences between pathological gambling and substance use disorders: A focus on impulsivity and compulsivity. Psychopharmacology, 219(2), 469–490.CrossRef

Luijten, M., Machielsen, M. W. J., Veltman, D. J., Hester, R., de Haan, L., & Franken, I. H. A. (2014). Systematic review of ERP and fMRI studies investigating inhibitory control and error processing in people with substance dependence and behavioural addictions. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience., 39(3), 149–169.CrossRef

Melcher, T., Falkai, P., & Gruber, O. (2008). Functional brain abnormalities in psychiatric disorders: neural mechanisms to detect and resolve cognitive conflict and interference. Brain Research Reviews, 59(1), 96–124.CrossRef

National Institute of Mental Health Strategic Plan. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/strategic-planning-reports/index.shtml#strategic-objective4. access date was 2015

Remijnse, P. L., Nielen, M. M. a., van Balkom, A. J. L. M., Cath, D. C., van Oppen, P., Uylings, H. B. M., & Veltman, D. J. (2006). Reduced orbitofrontal-striatal activity on a reversal learning task in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63(11), 1225–1236.CrossRef

Robbins, T., Curran, H., & de Wit, H. (2012). Special issue on impulsivity and compulsivity. Psychopharmacology, 219(2), 251–252.CrossRef

Robbins, T. W., Gillan, C. M., Smith, D. G., de Wit, S., & Ersche, K. D. (2012). Neurocognitive endophenotypes of impulsivity and compulsivity: towards dimensional psychiatry. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 16(1), 81–91.CrossRef

Robinson, D., Wu, H., Munne, R. A., Ashtari, M., Alvir, J. M., Lerner, G., Koreen, A., Cole, K., & Bogerts, B. (1995). Reduced caudate nucleus volume in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 52(5), 393–398.

Rothemund, Y., Buchwald, C., Georgiewa, P., Bohner, G., Bauknecht, H. C., Ballmaier, M., … Klingebiel, R. (2011). Compulsivity predicts fronto striatal activation in severely anorectic individuals. Neuroscience, 197, 242–250.CrossRef

Shohamy, D. (2011). Learning and motivation in the human striatum. Current Opinion Neurobiology, 21(3), 408–414.CrossRef

Sjoerds, Z., Luigjes, J., van den Brink, W., Denys, D., & Yücel, M. (2014). A reflection on the role of habits and motivation in human drug addiction. Frontiers Psychiatry, 5, 8.CrossRef

Solomon, R. L. (1980). The opponent-process theory of acquired motivation: The costs of pleasure and the benefits of pain. American Psychologist, 35(8), 691–712.CrossRef

Solomon, R. L., & Corbit, J. D. (1974). An opponent-process theory of motivation: I. Temporal dynamics of affect. Psychological Review, 81(2), 119–145.CrossRef

Torregrossa, M. M., Quinn, J. J., & Taylor, J. R. (2008). Impulsivity, compulsivity, and habit: The role of orbitofrontal cortex revisited. Biological Psychiatry, 63(3), 253–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.11.014 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Valerius, G., Lumpp, A., Kuelz, A.-K., Freyer, T., & Voderholzer, U. (2008). Reversal learning as a neuropsychological indicator for the neuropathology of obsessive compulsive disorder? A behavioral study. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 20(2), 210–218.CrossRef

van den Heuvel, O. A., van der Werf, Y. D., Verhoef, K. M. W., de Wit, S., Berendse, H. W., Wolters, E. C., … Groenewegen, H. J. (2010). Frontal-striatal abnormalities underlying behaviours in the compulsive-impulsive spectrum. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 289(1–2), 55–59.CrossRef

van den Heuvel, O. A., van Wingen, G., Soriano-Mas, C., Alonso, P., Chamberlain, S. R., Nakamae, T., … Veltman, D. J. (2016). Brain Circuitry of Compulsivity. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 26(5), 810–827.CrossRef

Yücel, M., & Fontenelle, L. F. (2012). Compulsivity as an endophenotype: The search for a hazy moving target. Addiction, 107(10), 1735–1736.CrossRef

Title: Defining Compulsive Behavior
Authors: Judy Luigjes
Valentina Lorenzetti
Sanneke de Haan
George J. Youssef
Carsten Murawski
Zsuzsika Sjoerds
Wim van den Brink
Damiaan Denys
Leonardo F. Fontenelle
Murat Yücel
Publication date: 01-03-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Keyword: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Published in: Neuropsychology Review / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 1040-7308
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6660
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-019-09404-9

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Defining Compulsive Behavior

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2019

Efficacy of Pharmacological Interventions in Targeting Decision-Making Impairments across Substance and Behavioral Addictions

Cognitive Bias Modification for Behavior Change in Alcohol and Smoking Addiction: Bayesian Meta-Analysis of Individual Participant Data

Efficacy of Invasive and Non-Invasive Brain Modulation Interventions for Addiction

Let’s Open the Decision-Making Umbrella: A Framework for Conceptualizing and Assessing Features of Impaired Decision Making in Addiction

A Systematic Meta-Review of Impulsivity and Compulsivity in Addictive Behaviors

Introduction to the Special Issue on the Utility of Transdiagnostic Approaches for Developing Novel Interventions for Substance and Behavioural Addictions