General Information About Kleptomania
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is an impulse control disorder where an individual cannot resist the urge to steal items that they do not need for personal use or for their monetary value (sometimes items of worthless trash).
Ordinary theft is committed for financial gain, planning, and self-interest. A kleptomania patient, however, does not need the stolen item and does not think about the risk of getting caught at the time of stealing; they get satisfaction from the act itself (the adrenaline during stealing) and often hide or throw the item away.
Just before the act of stealing, the person feels a mounting and unbearable inner tension. The moment the act is performed, a great sense of pleasure, relief, and gratification is felt. Hours later, severe shame, depression, and fear of arrest set in.
Although the exact cause is not fully known, it is thought that chemical imbalances affecting the brain's reward center (dopamine and serotonin), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) tendencies, and intense stress trigger this impulse.
Patients often hide it because they feel ashamed or fear criminal charges. The diagnosis is made when the person confirms in a clinical psychiatric evaluation that they perform this act not for financial gain or anger, but due to impulsive tension.
Antidepressant (SSRI) group medications are used to suppress impulsive behaviors and repetitive thoughts. Along with medication, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is employed to teach the patient techniques on how to manage the urge to steal when it arises.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
