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Kleptomania is the inability to resist recurring cravings to steal stuff that you don’t truly need and have little worth. Kleptomania is a rare but dangerous mental health illness that, if left untreated, can cause significant emotional distress in you and your loved ones.
Kleptomania is a form of impulse control disorder, which is defined by difficulties with emotional or behavioral self-control. If you have an impulse control disorder, you have difficulty resisting the temptation or drive to do something excessive or dangerous to yourself or others.
Because they are hesitant to seek mental health therapy, many persons with kleptomania endure lives of hidden shame. Although there is no cure for kleptomania, medicines or talk therapy (psychotherapy) may aid in breaking the pattern of obsessive stealing.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF KLEPTOMANIA?
Symptoms of kleptomania may include:
Inability to resist strong temptations to take stuff that you do not require
Feelings of increased tension, worry, or alertness preceding the theft
While stealing, you may experience pleasure, relaxation, or enjoyment.
Following the theft, you may experience intense guilt, remorse, self-loathing, shame, or fear of arrest.
The cravings return, and the kleptomania cycle is repeated.
WHAT ARE THE FEATURES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF KLEPTOMANIA?
Kleptomaniacs generally exhibit the following attributes or characteristics:
- People with kleptomania, unlike normal shoplifters, do not steal compulsively for personal gain, on a dare, for revenge, or out of rebellion. They steal simply because the impulse is too strong for them to resist.
- Kleptomania episodes normally occur spontaneously, without any forethought or assistance from another individual.
- The majority of kleptomaniacs steal from public areas such as stores and supermarkets. Some people will steal from their friends or acquaintances, such as at a party.
- Often, the stolen objects have no value to the kleptomaniac, and the kleptomaniac can afford to buy them.
- The stolen objects are frequently hidden away and never used. Items may also be donated, given to family or friends, or covertly returned to the location where they were taken.
- Urges to steal may come and go or occur with varying degrees of severity throughout time.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF KLEPTOMANIA?
The exact cause of kleptomania is unknown. Several ideas propose that kleptomania is caused by alterations in the brain. More research is needed to fully understand these potential reasons, although kleptomania has been connected to:
- Problems with serotonin, a naturally occurring brain chemical (neurotransmitter).
- Serotonin aids in the regulation of moods and emotions. Low serotonin levels are typical in those who are prone to impulsive conduct.
- Addictive disorders.
- Dopamine may be released as a result of theft (another neurotransmitter). Dopamine produces pleasure feelings, and some people crave this rewarding sensation again.
- The opioid system in the brain.
- The opioid system in the brain controls urges. An imbalance in this system may make it more difficult to resist cravings.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR KLEPTOMANIA?
Kleptomania is considered rare. However, because some people with kleptomania may never seek treatment or are just arrested after multiple thefts, some cases of kleptomania may never be diagnosed. Kleptomania typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood, however it can begin in adulthood or later. Women account for almost two-thirds of those with kleptomania.
Risk factors for kleptomania may include:
Family history: Having a first-degree relative with kleptomania, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or an alcohol or other substance use disorder may increase the likelihood of developing kleptomania.
Having a second mental illness: Kleptomania is frequently associated with another mental condition, such as bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, eating disorder, substance use disorder, or personality problem.
WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF KLEPTOMANIA?
Kleptomania, if left untreated, can cause severe emotional, family, job, legal, and financial problems. For example, you may know stealing is bad yet feel powerless to resist the urge, resulting in feelings of guilt, shame, self-loathing, and humiliation. You could also be arrested for stealing. You may otherwise live a moral and upright life and be perplexed and upset by your habitual thieving.
Kleptomania may be connected with the following problems and conditions:
- Other impulse-control problems include compulsive gambling and excessive purchasing.
- Misuse of alcohol and other drugs
- Eating problems
- Depression
- Bipolar illness
- Personality flaws
- Anxiety
- Suicidal ideation, suicidal attempt, and suicide
HOW IS KLEPTOMANIA DIAGNOSED?
When you decide to seek therapy for probable kleptomania symptoms, you may have both a physical and psychological evaluation. The physical examination can identify whether there are any medical causes for your symptoms.
Kleptomania is determined by your signs and symptoms. Because it is an impulse control disease, your doctor may do the following to assist narrow down a diagnosis:
- Inquire about your impulses and how they affect you.
- Examine a list of situations to see if they trigger your kleptomania episodes.
- Have you completed any psychological questionnaires or self-evaluations?
- Use the criteria from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
HOW IS KLEPTOMANIA TREATED?
Although fear, humiliation, or embarrassment may make it difficult to seek therapy for kleptomania, it is critical that you do so. Kleptomania is challenging to conquer on your own. Kleptomania will most likely be a chronic, long-term condition if not treated.
Kleptomania is often treated with drugs and psychotherapy, or both, sometimes in conjunction with self-help groups. There is no conventional kleptomania treatment, and experts are still attempting to figure out what works best. You may need to try a variety of treatments to discover one that works well for you.
Medications
There is minimal empirical evidence that psychiatric drugs can be used to treat kleptomania. Furthermore, there is no FDA-approved treatment for kleptomania. Certain medications, however, may be beneficial depending on your situation and whether you have other mental health disorders, such as depression or substance abuse.
Your doctor may think about prescribing:
- An opioid antagonist, naltrexone, is an addiction drug that may lower the impulses and pleasure associated with stealing.
- A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is an antidepressant (SSRI)
- Other drugs or a pharmaceutical cocktail
If medicine is prescribed, consult your doctor, mental health provider, or pharmacist about potential adverse effects or drug interactions.
Psychotherapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that assists you in identifying unhealthy, negative attitudes and habits and replacing them with healthy, positive ones. To assist you regulate your kleptomania desires, cognitive behavioral therapy may include the following techniques:
- Covert sensitization occurs when you imagine stealing and then face negative repercussions, such as being caught.
- When you feel the impulse to steal, use minimally painful techniques such as holding your breath until you become uncomfortable.
- Systematic desensitization, in which you practice relaxation techniques and imagine yourself resisting the temptation to steal
Avoiding relapses
Relapses of kleptomania are not uncommon. Stick to your treatment plan to help avoid relapses. If you have a strong desire to steal, speak with a mental health professional or a trusted friend or support group.
CONCLUSION
Treatment for kleptomania has been found to be effective in some circumstances, yet many persons with this disease never seek treatment at all due to the secrecy involved. However, evidence suggests that the desire to steal may diminish with age.
People with kleptomania may have relationship issues as a result of stealing from family and friends. Workplace issues may arise if a person with kleptomania steals from his or her employer. People with kleptomania are at danger of legal troubles because stealing is a felony. A person suffering from kleptomania may seek therapy only when obliged to do so by the legal system. Kleptomania can persist even after a person has been arrested several times.
