Kleptomania
Definition:
Kleptomania is the inability to resist impulses to steal. The things that are stolen are not needed for personal use. They are also not taken for their monetary value. This is a rare condition.
Causes:
The exact cause of kleptomania is unknown. It often occurs with other psychologic disorders. These include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Substance abuse (alcoholism or drug abuse)
- Eating disorders (anorexia or bulimia)
- Other impulse control disorders
Risk Factors:
A risk factor is something that increases your chances of getting a disease or condition. Kleptomania appears to be more common in females than in males. There are no other known risk factors.
Symptoms:
Symptoms of kleptomania include all of the following:
- A repeated inability to resist impulses to steal things that are not of personal value
- A feeling of relief, gratification, and/or pleasure when stealing things
- Thefts not committed out of anger or vengeance
- Lack of a better explanation for the theft, such as another psychologic disorder
Diagnosis:
Kleptomania is different from shoplifting or ordinary theft, which is:
- Deliberate
- Motivated by the stolen item's usefulness or monetary value
- The result of a dare, an act of rebellion, or a rite of passage
A psychiatrist or psychologist will diagnose kleptomania when:
- All of the symptoms of kleptomania are present
- There is no other, better explanation for repeated thefts
- Kleptomania is not an excuse for shoplifting or ordinary theft
Treatment:
Treatment may include:
Psychologic Counseling or Therapy – Counseling or therapy may be in a group or one-to-one setting. It is usually aimed at dealing with underlying psychologic problems that may be contributing to kleptomania. It may also include:
- Behavior modification therapy
- Family therapy
Medications – Drugs used for treatment include:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which raise serotonin levels in the brain:
- Fluoxetine (Prozac; most commonly used)
- Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
- Paroxetine (Paxil)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
Please Note: On March 22, 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Public Health Advisory that cautions physicians, patients, families and caregivers of patients with depression to closely monitor both adults and children receiving certain antidepressant medications. The FDA is concerned about the possibility of worsening depression and/or the emergence of suicidal thoughts, especially among children and adolescents at the beginning of treatment, or when there is an increase or decrease in the dose. The medications of concern - mostly SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors) - are: Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), Paxil (paroxetine), Luvox (fluvoxamine), Celexa (citalopram); Lexapro (escitalopram), Wellbutrin (bupropion), Effexor (venlafaxine), Serzone (nefazodone), and Remeron (mirtazapine). Of these, only Prozac (fluoxetine) is approved for use in children and adolescents for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), and Luvox (fluvoxamine) are approved for use in children and adolescents for the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder.
- Lithium
- Trazodone (Desyrel, Trialodine)
- Valproic acid (Depakene, Valproate, Valrelease)
Prevention:
There are no guidelines for preventing kleptomania because the exact cause is not known. |
