Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Compulsive behavior
Introduction
Compulsive behavior is behavior which a person does “compulsively”, i.e., not because he enjoys it but because he feels he “has to”. The two most common forms are:
- obsessive-compulsive disorder – obsessive, distressing, intrusive thoughts and related compulsions which attempt to neutralize the obsessions
- drug addiction – a condition where a person takes a drug compulsively, despite potential harm to themselves, or their desire to stop
See also
- psychological addiction => addiction – the repeated use of substances or behaviors despite clear evidence of morbidity secondary to such use.
- physical addiction => physical dependence
- cocaine addiction => cocaine