Reliability and validity of a scale to measure change in persons with compulsive buying.

A new scale to measure severity and change in persons with compulsive buying is described. Data were gathered during an open-label study in which compulsive buyers were treated with fluvoxamine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The instrument showed good-to-excellent interrater reliability and high internal consistency. Its 10 separate items showed at least moderate correlations with the total score. The instrument was also sensitive to clinical change and correlated highly with other measures of illness severity. We conclude that this new instrument is both reliable and valid in measuring severity and change in persons with compulsive buying.