Kleptomania

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
  • Eating disorders
  • 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 (most common)
    • Fluvoxamine
    • Paroxetine
    • Sertraline
  • Lithium
  • Trazodone
  • Valproate

Prevention

There are no guidelines for preventing Kleptomania because the exact cause is not known.