Could Popping a Pill Help Those Who Shop Til They Drop?
Dec. 21, 1999 (Atlanta) — Researchers at Stanford University are launching a study to try to find out if a class of drugs already used to treat depression could help curb the buying appetite of compulsive shoppers. The drugs, known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), work by enhancing blood levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter or chemical messenger produced in the brain. Increased serotonin levels seem to improve behavior and mood, though it’s not known exactly why. At present, an agreement between Stanford and the manufacturer prevents the drug from being named, although researchers say it is similar to Prozac ( fluoxetine). Participants in the 12-week trial will take the medication and keep a daily diary of how much time they devote to shopping and how much they spend. They’ll also meet with researchers at Stanford’s Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders Clinic throughout the trial. The chief investigator says recruitment of compulsive shoppers during the holidays is coi
