I am a reporter for the Oakland Tribune in Oakland, California.
Our health writer, who does not have access to the Internet, asked if I
could find some information on the net for a story on which she is
working. She is trying to locate someone who is familiar with the
psychology of compulsive buying, which was recently described in a
psychiatic journal as a clinical syndrome. It reportedly
is characterized by the irresistible urge to buy, followed by a form of
tension relief or gratification, usually temporary, after the purchase.
I noticed some past postings on this newsgroup about
obsessive-compulsive behavior and hoped there might be someone among you
who knows about compulsive buying. The health writer is especially
interested in contacting someone who has treated this problem and thus
might be able to direct us to people who have suffered from this
affliction.
If anyone can help on this, could you please send me an e-mail message
with your phone number so I can have the health writer contact you? Her
name is Rachele Kanigel.
If, on the other hand, this posting is off topic for your group, my
sincere apologies.
Thanks in advance for any help on this.
Paul Grabowicz
grabs at ix.netcom.com
