Having her husband deployed is probably not helping anything. does she hav help with the kids? a nanny? a babysitter? She is probably stressed to the max.

impulsive buying could be part of many different disorders. Does she want help? I would suggest that go to her local doc and get a refferal to a psychologist or psychiatrist, as that is the fastest way to get diagnosed. It may just be stress. Or it may be something more. Only a professional can decide.