For years, compulsive behaviors have been viewed as bad habits stuck on autopilot. But new research in rats found the ...

New research suggests that compulsive behavior may be less about willpower failure and more about inflammation quietly disrupting the brain’s reward and habit circuits. While the idea of “hidden brain ...

Domestic horses sometimes engage in stereotyped behaviors (a repetitive movement that appears to have no purpose or function.) In horses, these behaviors may include cribbing, pawing, head shaking, ...

A specific pattern of brain activity in a frontal brain region is linked to compulsive behaviors like excessive hand washing, chronic hair-pulling, and skin-picking in people with obsessive compulsive ...

Compulsive shopping (sometimes called compulsive buying or shopping addiction) refers to a preoccupation with purchasing products and spending money. Compulsive shopping shares several characteristics ...

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a mental health disorder, "where a person gets caught in a vicious cycle of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors," explains Guerra. The thoughts and fears such ...

Sudden onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may result from infections such as Lyme disease, mononucleosis, mycoplasma, and influenza. OCD is a chronic mental health condition. People with OCD ...

Obsessive-compulsive disorder can be disabling without treatment. Learn more about when and how to seek professional help.