A common belief is that compulsive behaviors trap people in a “habit loop” that takes over self-control. New research, however, suggests this explanation may be incomplete. For many years, compulsive ...

Compulsive overeating and binge eating disorder both involve eating in excess. Doctors classify them differently based on the frequency and severity of symptoms. Binge eating may qualify as a mental ...

In a recent article published in Molecular Psychiatry, researchers performed longitudinal studies in rats to measure the sensitivity of early established versus compulsive polydipsic alcohol (or water ...

Compulsive behaviours may not involve a "habit loop" that overrides self-control, but may instead involve inflammation in a brain region known to be important for choosing actions, according to a ...

Giulia Poerio does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond ...

Compulsive reassurance-seeking is a safety behavior designed to reduce distress. This coping strategy has a variety of emotional motives. It may be used to gain a sense of control over doubts, a sense ...