For many, this claim would not come as a surprise, after all the rising popularity of online shopping sites has caused brands such as Mothercare to close down after the majority of consumers prefer to shop online rather than in high street stores. While these people occasionally shop every now and then for the items they need, it seems for others this compulsive habit has become an addiction - so much so that it has lead researchers into believing that it should be classified as a mental health condition

Researchers from Hannover Medical School claimed that buying-shopping disorder (BSD) should have its own classification, rather than its current listing as other specified impulse control disorder. Dr Astrid Muller, who led the study, said: “It really is time to recognise BSD as a separate mental health condition and to accumulate further knowledge about BSD on the Internet.” In a study, they looked at some evidence from 122 patients seeking help for their online shopping addictions and found they had higher than usual rates of depression and anxiety.

Worryingly, its caught the attention of many that people with this so-called disorder tend to buy more than they can afford. People obsessed over spending money online have been found to end up hoarding the things they purchase, end up in debt, argue with loved ones and consequently completely lose control. 

It has come to experts' attention just how accessible online shopping can be, with sites running 24 hours a day and being able to buy or sell things without facing shopkeepers or having to worry about leaving the house at all.