Comparison of the frequency of behavioral addiction in euthymic bipolar patients with healthy volunteers

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to compare euthymic bipolar patients and healthy volunteers in terms of behavioral addictions (gambling, shopping, internet, exercise) and to investigate the relationship between behavioral addictions (BA) and bipolar disorder (BD). Method: A total of 60 euthymic patients who met DSM-V criteria for bipolar disorder and 60 healthy controls participated in the present study. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) were used to determine that patients with BD were in the euthymic period. Along with the sociodemographic data form, the South Oaks Gambling Screen, online shopping addiction version of the Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale, Exercise Dependence Scale-21, Internet Addiction Scale were applied to the patient and control groups to compare behavioral addictions between the groups and to determine BD-BA relationship. Results: The mean scores of the South Oaks Gambling Screen and Internet Addiction Scale were found to be higher in the patient group compared to the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. It was determined that the mean scores of the Exercise Dependence Scale-21 were lower in the patient group compared to the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. It was determined that the mean scores of the online shopping addiction version of the Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale were lower in the patient group compared to the control group, and the difference was statistically significant. Discussion: More comprehensive studies are needed to investigate the relationship between BD and BA, and to better identify individuals with bipolar disorder at risk of behavioral addictions. Keywords: Bipolar Disorder, Behavioral Addictions, gambling, shopping, exercise, internet