Description

Kleptomania (klep-toe-MAY-nee-uh) is a mental health disorder that involves repeatedly being unable to resist impulses to steal objects that you don't really need. Often the stolen items have little value and you can afford to buy them. Kleptomania is a rare, but can be a severe disease. Can cause much emotional pain to you and your loved ones, and even legal issues — if it is not.

Kleptomania is a type of impulse control disorder, a disorder that involves problems with emotional or behavioral self-control. If you have an impulse control disorder, you have a hard time resisting the temptation or the powerful urge to perform an act that is excessive or detrimental to you or to someone else.

Many people with kleptomania live lives of secret shame because they are afraid to seek mental health treatment. Although there is no cure for kleptomania, the treatment with the medicine or the development of skills of therapy that focuses on dealing with calls can help to end the cycle of theft compulsive disorder.

Symptoms

Kleptomania symptoms may include:

  • The inability to resist powerful impulses to steal objects that do not need
  • Feeling of increased tension, anxiety, or excitement leads to theft
  • A feeling of pleasure, relief, or satisfaction, while the theft of
  • A Terrible feeling of guilt, remorse, self-hatred, shame or fear of arrest after the burglary
  • The return of the pulse, and a repetition of kleptomania cycle

Features

People with kleptomania often have these characteristics:

  • Unlike the majority of offenders, people with kleptomania do not steal compulsively for personal benefit, on a dare, revenge or rebellion. Stolen simply because the urge is so powerful that you can't resist.
  • The episodes of kleptomania usually happen suddenly, without planning, and without the help of another person.
  • Most of the people with kleptomania steal from the public places, such as shops. Some may steal from friends or acquaintances, such as at a party.
  • Often, the stolen items have no value to the person with kleptomania, and the person can afford to buy them.
  • The stolen items are usually hidden away, never to be used. Items can also be donating, gifting them to family or friends, or even secretly returned to the place where they were stolen.
  • Urges to steal, you can come and go or it may occur with greater or lesser intensity in the course of time.

When to see a doctor

If you can't stop a theft or robbery, seek medical advice. Many people who have kleptomania does not want to seek treatment because they fear that they will be arrested or imprisoned. However, a provider of mental health generally do not report their theft to the authorities.

Some people seek medical help because they are afraid that they will get caught and have legal problems. Or already have been arrested and are legally obliged to seek treatment.

If a loved one has kleptomania

If you suspect that a close friend or family member may have kleptomania, gently raise your concerns with that person. Please note that kleptomania is a mental health disorder, not a character flaw, so that the approach to the person without judgment or blame.

It can be useful to highlight the following points:

  • You're worried because you care about the person's health and well-being.
  • You are concerned about the risks of theft compulsive disorder, such as being arrested, losing a job, or damage to a valuable relationship.
  • You understand that, with kleptomania, the impulse to steal may be too strong to resist only for "put your mind to it."
  • The available treatments that can help minimize the urge to steal, and to live without the addiction and the shame.

If you need help to prepare for this conversation, talk with your health care provider. Your doctor may refer you to a mental health professional can help you plan a way to raise their concerns without making your friend or family on the defensive or threatened.

Causes

The causes of kleptomania are not known. Several theories suggest that changes in the brain may be at the root of kleptomania, and that he learned of the patterns of theft of articles strengthens the problem over time. More research is needed to better understand these possible causes, but the kleptomania may be linked to:

  • Problems with a naturally occurring chemical in the brain called serotonin. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood and emotions. Low levels of serotonin are common in people prone to impulsive behavior.
  • Addictive disorders. Stealing can cause the release of dopamine, another neurotransmitter. Dopamine causes pleasurable feelings, and some people are looking for this rewarding feeling again and again.
  • The brain's opioid system. Urges are regulated by the brain's opioid system. An imbalance in this system, could make it harder to resist the urges.
  • Learned habit. Urges that they are very uncomfortable. To respond to these impulses of stealing causes a temporary decrease in the distress and relief of these impulses. This creates a strong habit that becomes difficult to break.

Risk factors

Kleptomania is not common. But in some cases, the kleptomania may never be diagnosed. Some people never seek treatment. Other individuals who are imprisoned after repeated thefts.

Kleptomania often begins in adolescence or in adulthood, but can begin later. About two-thirds of the people who know the kleptomania are women.

Kleptomania risk factors may include:

  • The history of the family. Having a blood relative, such as a father or a brother, with kleptomania or addictive disorders can increase the risk of kleptomania.
  • Having another mental illness. People with kleptomania often have other mental health disorder, such as anxiety, depression or a substance use disorder.

Complications

Left untreated, kleptomania may result in severe emotional, family, work, legal and financial problems. For example, you know that stealing is wrong, but you feel powerless to resist the impulse. As a result, you can be full of guilt, shame, self-contempt and humiliation. And you may be arrested for stealing. Otherwise you can lead a life that is respectful of the law and be confused and annoyed by her compulsive stealing.

Other complications and associated conditions with kleptomania may include:

  • Other impulse-control disorders, such as compulsive gambling or shopping
  • Of Alcohol or other substances of abuse
  • Personality disorders
  • Eating disorders
  • Depression
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Suicidal thoughts and behavior.

Prevention

Because the causes of kleptomania is not clear, we still do not know how to avoid that with certainty. Receive treatment as soon as compulsive stealing begins can help prevent kleptomania from getting worse and prevent some of the negative consequences.

Diagnosis

Kleptomania is diagnosed based on symptoms. When you decide to seek treatment for symptoms of possible kleptomania, you can have a physical examination and a psychological evaluation. The physical examination can determine if there are medical causes for the activation of your symptoms.

Because kleptomania is a type of impulse control disorder, to help determine a diagnosis, your mental health provider may:

  • Ask questions about impulses and how they make you feel
  • Review a list of situations to ask if these situations trigger episodes of kleptomania
  • Talk about the problems they have had because of this behavior
  • They have to fill out questionnaires or self-assessments
  • Use the instructions in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American psychiatric Association

Treatment

Although the fear, the humiliation or embarrassment may make it difficult for you to seek treatment for kleptomania, it is important to get help. Kleptomania is difficult to overcome on your own. Without treatment, kleptomania is likely to be an ongoing, long-term condition.

The treatment of kleptomania typically involves medications and psychotherapy, or both, sometimes together with self-help groups. However, there is no standard of kleptomania treatment, and the researchers are still trying to understand what can work best. You may need to try multiple types of treatment to find what works for you.

Medications

There is little scientific research on the use of psychiatric drugs to treat kleptomania. And it is not FDA-approved medication for kleptomania. However, certain medications may help, depending on your situation, and if you have other mental health disorders, such as depression or substance abuse.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe:

  • A treatment of the addiction to the drug called naltrexone, which may reduce the need and the pleasure that is associated with the theft of
  • An antidepressant, specifically, a selective inhibitor of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIS)
  • Other medications or combination of medications

If the medication is prescribed, ask your health care provider or pharmacist about possible side effects or potential interactions with other medications.

Psychotherapy

A form of psychotherapy called cognitive-behavioral therapy helps you identify unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy ones that can be used in various situations when it is necessary. Cognitive-behavioral therapy may include the development of technical skills to help control the kleptomania urges:

  • Systematic desensitization and counter-conditioning, in which the practice of relaxation techniques, and other strategies, while in triggering situations to learn how to reduce your urges in a healthy way
  • The awareness undercover, in which he imagines you to steal and then face negative consequences, such as being caught
  • The aversion therapy, in which the practice slightly painful techniques, such as holding their breath until they become uncomfortable, when you get an impulse to steal

To avoid relapse

It is not unusual to have relapses of kleptomania. To help avoid relapse, be sure to follow your treatment plan. If you feel that your urges to steal, contact your mental health provider or reach out to a trusted person or a support group.

Coping and support

You can take steps to take care of himself, with coping skills healthy while you are receiving treatment professional:

  • Follow your treatment plan. Take the medicines as directed and attend therapy sessions. Remember, it's a tough job and you may have occasional setbacks.
  • Educate yourself. Learn about kleptomania so that you can better understand the risk factors, treatments and activate events.
  • Identify triggers. Identify the situations, thoughts, and feelings that can trigger urges to steal, so that you can take steps to control them.
  • Get treatment for substance abuse or other mental health problems. Your use of substances, depression, anxiety and stress can lead to a cycle of emotional pain and unhealthy behavior.
  • Find healthy communication. Explore healthy ways to channel back the urge to steal or shoplift through exercises and recreational activities.
  • Learn relaxation and stress management. Try stress-reduction techniques, such as meditation, yoga or tai chi.
  • Stay focused on your goal. The recovery of kleptomania can take time. Stay motivated by keeping your recovery goals in mind. Remember that you can work to repair damaged relationships, and financial and legal problems.
  • Be honest with your loved ones. Initially you may need help with the control of his urges when in higher risk situations, such as shopping. Let your loved ones know about their struggles, and consider the possibility of using the "buddy system" for a period of time while you're learning more ways to manage your impulses.

Support for your loved ones

If your friend or family member is being treated for kleptomania, make sure you understand the details of the treatment plan and actively support your success. It may be helpful to attend one or more sessions of therapy with your friend or family member to know the factors that seem to trigger the impulse to steal and the most effective ways to cope.

You can also benefit from talking with a therapist himself. The recovery of an impulse control disorder is a long-term challenge for the company — both for the person with the disorder, and close friends and family. Make sure that you are taking care of their own needs with those of stress-reduction of communication that works best for you, such as exercise, meditation, or time with friends.

Self-help groups

People with kleptomania can benefit from your participation in self-help groups based on 12-step programs and those designed for the problems of addiction. Even if you can't find a group specifically for kleptomania, you can benefit from attending Alcoholics Anonymous or other addiction meetings. Such groups do not suit all tastes, so ask your mental health provider about alternatives.

Preparing for your appointment

If you struggle with an irresistible urge to steal, talk with your health care provider. Be honest with your doctor about your symptoms. Have that discussion can be scary, but trust that your provider is interested in the care of your health, not judging you. You may be referred to a mental health provider, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist with experience in the diagnosis and treatment of kleptomania.

You may want to take a trusted family member or friend along to help her remember the details. Also, someone who has known for a long time, you may be able to ask questions or share your information with the mental health provider that you don't remember bringing up.

Here's some information to help you to be prepared and know what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

To prepare for your appointment, make a list of:

  • The symptoms you are experiencing, and for how long
  • Key personal information, including traumatic events in the past and present, the main stress factors
  • Your medical information, including other physical or mental health conditions
  • All of the medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, or other supplements, and dosage
  • Questions to ask your provider so that you can make the most of your appointment

Some questions may include:

  • Why can't I stop stealing?
  • What treatments are available?
  • What treatments are most likely to work for me?
  • How quickly could I quit stealing?
  • I can still feel the urge to steal?
  • How often should I therapy sessions and for how long?
  • There are medications that can help?
  • What are the possible side effects of these medications?
  • I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions?
  • How can my family is the best support of my treatment?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What sites do you recommend?

What to expect from your mental health professional

To better understand your symptoms and how it is affecting your life, your mental health care provider may ask:

  • At what age was the first experience of an irresistible impulse to steal?
  • How often do you experience the urge to steal?
  • Have you ever been caught or arrested for stealing?
  • How would you describe your feelings before, during, and after stealing something?
  • What types of items do you steal? Are the things you need?
  • In what kind of situations they can steal?
  • What to do with the items you steal?
  • Is there anything in particular seem to trigger the impulse to steal?
  • How is your urge to steal that affect their lives, including school, work and personal relationships?
  • Have any of your close relatives has ever had a problem with the theft-compulsive disorder or other mental health conditions, such as depression or drug and alcohol abuse?
  • Make use of alcohol or recreational drugs? If so, what do you use and how often?
  • Have been treated by any other mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression? If yes, what were the most effective treatments?
  • She is currently receiving treatment for any medical condition?

You can ask more questions based on your responses, symptoms, and needs. Preparation questions will help you get the most out of your appointment.

Symptoms and treatment of Kleptomania